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The short answer
Under NERC's Customer Protection Regulations 2023 (Regulation 29(3)), an electricity bill debt cannot be transferred to a new occupant; the DisCo must pursue the former customer who moved out. A prepaid meter stays at the premises, so the practical steps on moving day are a final reading, a written handover, and checking that no old arrears are being recovered through your token purchases.
The rule on old debts
NERC's Customer Protection Regulations 2023, published on 20 April 2023, state that an electricity bill debt is not transferable to a new occupant. The DisCo has to go after the customer who left. This matters most with prepaid meters, because arrears can be loaded on a meter and recovered as a percentage of each token you buy. If you bought a token and received far fewer units than expected, an old debt on the meter is a common cause.
NERC's payment and disconnection guidelines, as summarised by Mondaq in July 2023, add that a final reading should be taken when a customer moves; where the customer refuses access, the DisCo may issue an estimated final bill. Customers who have been over-billed are entitled to a refund.
Who owns the meter
A meter stays at the premises when the occupant leaves. That is true whether it came through MAP, a national rollout or an older installation. The account on the meter, however, should be in the name of whoever is responsible for paying. Agreements between landlord and tenant about who paid for a MAP meter are a private matter between them; the DisCo deals with the account holder.
| Situation | Who usually bears it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Old arrears on the meter from a previous tenant | The former customer, under Regulation 29(3) | Ask the DisCo to remove the debt from the meter and pursue the old customer |
| Landlord paid for a MAP meter | Landlord (meter stays with the property) | Record the meter number in the tenancy agreement |
| Tenant paid for a MAP meter | Agree in writing before moving in | Agree a refund or rent offset with the landlord |
| Postpaid account in landlord's name | Account holder | Ask the DisCo for a change of occupancy and final bill |
Moving in: steps
- Write down the meter number and the units showing on the meter on the day you get the keys. Take a dated photo.
- Buy a small token and check the receipt: does it show a debt deduction or arrears line?
- If it does, contact the DisCo with the meter number, your tenancy start date and the photo, and ask for the arrears to be cleared from the meter under Regulation 29(3).
- Ask for a change of occupancy so the account details match you, or note in writing who the account holder is.
- Check your band and tariff class on the receipt. A shop under a residential class, or the reverse, is worth correcting early (see how NERC classifies a shop).
Moving out: steps
- Use up or note the remaining units and photograph the meter display with the date.
- If you are on postpaid, request a final reading and final bill; if you are not there to give access, the DisCo may estimate it.
- Settle any genuine arrears in your name, and keep the receipt.
- Give the landlord a short handover note: meter number, units left, date.
Worked example (illustrative)
Example only: you buy a ₦10,000 token and the receipt shows a 30% debt recovery. ₦3,000 goes to arrears and ₦7,000 to energy. At an example tariff of ₦70 per kWh, you get 100 kWh instead of about 142.9 kWh. Over a month of four such purchases, ₦12,000 of your money has gone to someone else's debt. That is the figure to put in your complaint.
If the DisCo will not move the debt
Complain to the DisCo's complaints unit and quote Regulation 29(3) of the Customer Protection Regulations 2023. If it is not resolved, escalate to the NERC Forum Office and then NERC; in states with their own regulator, those later steps go to the state commission. The DisCo complaint guide covers the route, and Lagos renters can read our Lagos handover checklist.
Postpaid and shared meters
On a postpaid account the final bill is the main risk. Ask for the final reading, check it against your photo, and settle only the units you used. Where several flats share one meter or one estimated account, nobody can prove who used what; that is the moment to ask the landlord to apply for a meter per flat under the MAP scheme, which we compare in MAP vs NMMP. Until then, agree a written sharing formula among the occupants and keep the DisCo receipts together, so that a new tenant is not asked to pay for months before their arrival.
Where Pryme fits
Buying tokens through Pryme electricity payments gives you a dated record of every purchase, which is useful evidence if arrears appear on your meter after you move in. A Personal Assistant on Pryme's assistant page can remind you to photograph the meter on handover day.
Questions people ask
Am I responsible for the previous tenant's NEPA bill?
No. Regulation 29(3) of NERC's Customer Protection Regulations 2023 says a bill debt cannot be transferred to a new occupant; the DisCo must pursue the former customer.
Why is my token deducting debt in my new house?
Arrears from a previous occupant may be loaded on the meter. Ask your DisCo to remove them, quoting Regulation 29(3).
Can I take my prepaid meter when I move?
No. The meter stays at the premises. Settle any payment you made for it with the landlord in writing.
What happens if I move out without a final reading?
The DisCo may issue an estimated final bill if access was refused, so arrange a reading or photograph the meter before you leave.
Sources
- Mondaq: Highlights of NERC's Customer Protection Regulations 2023 (29 May 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Alliance Law Firm): Summary of NERC's guidelines for payment and disconnection (31 Jul 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- NERC: Metering factsheet (13 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.