Nigerian electricity consumers received a total of N155.84 million in credit refunds from distribution companies during 2025, according to the latest quarterly report released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The refunds were issued in four installments after the commission resolved billing‑related complaints lodged across the country. NERC’s data show that consumers were credited with N32.21 million in the first quarter, N40.22 million in the second, N32.66 million in the third, and N50.75 million in the fourth quarter.
Billing disputes continued to dominate the complaint landscape, accounting for 29 % to 37 % of all cases recorded in 2025. In the first quarter alone, NERC received 4,169 complaints; of these, 1,554 were resolved, yielding a resolution rate of 37.27 %.
The commission’s report breaks down the nature of the complaints received during the same period:
- Billing issues: 37.37 %
- Metering problems: 32.00 %
- Service interruptions: 13.65 %
Together, these three categories represented more than 83 % of all consumer grievances.
NERC’s quarterly figures indicate that the credit refunds resulted from the verification and settlement of overbilling and related disputes by the distribution companies (Discos). While the refunds provide immediate financial relief to affected households, the relatively low resolution rate highlights ongoing challenges in handling consumer complaints efficiently.
The commission has urged distribution firms to strengthen billing accuracy and improve dispute‑resolution mechanisms to reduce the frequency of refunds and enhance customer confidence in the power sector.
Continued monitoring by NERC will track progress in complaint resolution and the effectiveness of measures aimed at curbing billing errors.
