Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) will over the next five years refund payments made by customers under the Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) Regulation as part of the options to align MAPs with the national metering plan.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on October 30 issued an order stating that the MAPs Regulation will be amended to align with the Federal Government’s National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) which obligates electricity companies to fully meter all customers.
“All investments made in the provision of end-use customer meters under the Federal Government’s National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) financed by the Central Bank of Nigeria shall be included in the regulatory asset base of the DisCos for the purpose of setting tariffs,” NERC said in an order issued October 30.
The regulator further said that the Meter Asset Provider regulation would be amended in alignment with the NMMP initiative to include the following provisions:
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“Customers who have earlier paid for meters under the MAP Regulations shall be refunded through energy credits over a period not exceeding five years
“The payment for meters by customers through upfront payments OR monthly Meter Service Charge as provided in the subsisting MAP regulation shall cease.”
