Nigeria: NERC Orders DisCos To Compensate Wrongfully Disconnected Customers With Three Months’ Energy Credits

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered electricity distribution companies to compensate customers who are wrongfully disconnected with energy credits equivalent to three months of their average consumption for each day they remain without supply.

The regulator also directed distributors to repair or replace faulty meters within 48 hours of receiving a report and warned against charging reconnection fees when customers are disconnected without due process.

NERC said the directives were aimed at strengthening consumer protection, improving awareness of customers’ rights and enforcing compliance with regulations in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

The measures also provide guidance on resolving disputes between customers and distribution companies, it said.

Under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, customers who pay upfront for meters must have them installed within 10 days of full payment, the commission said.

Customers are entitled to reimbursement through energy credits spread over 120 months.

These credits must not be used to offset existing debts, it added.

NERC said meters supplied under the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) and the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) must be installed at no cost to customers.

Anyone charged for a meter under either programme is entitled to a full refund, the regulator said.