NERC introduces consumer protections and updates Nigeria electricity metering rates

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued new directives to protect consumers and improve accountability within the electricity supply industry. Under the new rules, customers wrongfully disconnected by Distribution Companies (DisCos) without following approved procedures are entitled to compensation equivalent to three months of their average electricity consumption for every day they remain without power.

NERC also mandated that DisCos must repair or replace faulty meters within 48 hours of receiving a complaint. Regarding the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, meters must be installed within 10 days of payment, with customers receiving reimbursements via energy credits spread over 120 months. These credits cannot be used to offset existing debts.

In terms of sector performance, NERC reported that DisCos metered 141,746 new customers in August 2026, bringing the national metering rate to 63.10 percent. While the monthly number of newly metered customers declined compared to July, the total number of metered customers rose to over 8 million. Eko DisCo maintained the highest national metering rate at 89.64 percent.