Electricity Distribution Firms Collect N210.9bn In October Amid Lower Billing Efficiency

Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DisCos) collected N210.92 billion in revenue in October 2025, up from the previous month, even as billing efficiency declined, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The latest NERC Commercial Performance Factsheet shows DisCos received electricity worth N303.85 billion from the national grid in October. Of this, they billed customers N255.19 billion, achieving an industry-wide billing efficiency of 83.9% – a dip from September’s 86.43 per cent.

Energy billed and billing efficiency: N303.85 billion (total energy received) and N255.19 billion (total energy billed); billing efficiency: 83.9 per cent,” NERC stated in the factsheet.

Out of the billed amount, DisCos collected N210.92 billion, reflecting improved collection efficiency of about 82.6 per cent compared to 81.25 per cent in September, when they gathered N196.26 billion from N241.54 billion billed.“

Revenue collection and collection efficiency: total billing N255.19 billion, total revenue collected N210.92 billion,” the regulator summarised, noting a revenue gap of N44.27 billion – marginally narrower than September’s approximately N45 billion shortfall.

Billing efficiencies varied widely among the 11 DisCos. NERC reported that Kano DisCo led with 98.05 per cent, followed by Eko at 95.71 per cent and Ikeja at 94.36 per cent.“Jos DisCo achieved 84.89 per cent, Kaduna 84.62 per cent, Abuja 84.05 per cent, Enugu 80.23 per cent, Port Harcourt 80.32 per cent, Ibadan 73.51 per cent, Yola 66.03 per cent, while Benin recorded the lowest at 65.32 per cent,” the factsheet detailed.

These disparities, NERC noted, underscore ongoing operational challenges despite the higher volumes handled in October compared to September’s N279.45 billion received.

The mixed performance continues to strain liquidity in Nigeria’s power value chain. NERC has warned that persistent gaps in billing and collection hinder remittances to generation companies (GenCos) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).

The regulator links improvements to better metering – now at 56.07 per cent nationally as of October 2025 – and initiatives like the National Mass Metering Programme, alongside stricter enforcement.