Electricity Revenue Gap Persists Despite DisCos’ 81% Collection Rate, NERC Reports
DisCos Recover Over 80% of Electricity Bills in April as Revenue Performance Improves
NERC Reports ₦203.61 Billion Collected from ₦252.43 Billion Billed
NIGERIA’S electricity distribution companies (DisCos) recovered more than four-fifths of the electricity bills issued to customers in April 2026, according to new industry data released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), highlighting gradual improvements in revenue collection despite persistent regional disparities.
The commission disclosed that the country’s 11 electricity distribution companies billed consumers a combined ₦252.43 billion during the month and recovered ₦203.61 billion, representing a nationwide collection efficiency of 80.66 per cent. The figures indicate that approximately ₦48.82 billion, or about one-fifth of total billings, remained unpaid.
Revenue recovery remains one of the most critical indicators of financial sustainability within Nigeria’s electricity value chain, as collections fund payments to electricity generation companies (GenCos), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), market operators and other participants in the power sector.
Abuja, Ikeja and Eko Lead National Revenue Collections
The latest NERC data showed that the country’s largest urban electricity markets continued to dominate revenue generation.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company emerged as the highest revenue earner after collecting ₦37.55 billion from ₦44.36 billion billed during the month.
Closely behind was Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, which recovered ₦37.34 billion from total billings of ₦41.50 billion, while Eko Electricity Distribution Company generated ₦36.87 billion from ₦39.12 billion invoiced to customers.
Collectively, the three distribution companies accounted for well over half of the total revenue recovered nationwide, reflecting the concentration of commercial, industrial and high-density residential electricity consumption within their franchise areas.
Regional Collection Performance Shows Wide Differences
Performance varied significantly across other distribution companies.
Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company billed customers ₦30.35 billion but recovered ₦21.74 billion, while Enugu Electricity Distribution Company collected ₦13.92 billion from total invoices of ₦19.70 billion.
Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company recorded one of the strongest collection efficiencies nationwide, recovering ₦15.83 billion from ₦17.32 billion billed. Benin Electricity Distribution Company also posted an impressive performance, collecting ₦16.34 billion from billings of ₦17.10 billion.
Northern distribution companies generally reported lower recovery rates. Kano Electricity Distribution Company billed ₦16.04 billion but recovered only ₦8.00 billion, equivalent to roughly half of the amount invoiced.
Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company collected ₦5.83 billion from ₦10.52 billion billed, while Jos recovered ₦6.51 billion from ₦11.05 billion. Yola Electricity Distribution Company billed ₦5.30 billion and collected ₦3.63 billion.
Revenue Collection Remains Critical to Power Sector Stability
Industry analysts regard revenue collection as one of the most important measures of operational performance because electricity distribution companies rely heavily on customer payments to meet financial obligations across the electricity supply chain.
Persistent revenue shortfalls reduce the liquidity available within the sector, affecting the ability of distribution companies to settle invoices owed to generation companies, transmission operators and other market participants.
The April figures therefore illustrate both encouraging progress in overall collection efficiency and continuing structural challenges, particularly in franchise areas where payment compliance remains relatively weak.
With the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission continuing efforts to improve market discipline, the latest data underscores the importance of strengthening billing systems, metering programmes and customer payment compliance to ensure the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity industry.
