Nigerian electricity distribution companies (DisCos) experienced a boost in revenue during October 2025, collecting N210.92 billion, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). This figure represents an increase compared to the previous month. However, this positive result occurred even as the efficiency of billing customers for electricity consumed showed signs of weakening.
NERC’s latest report on commercial performance reveals that DisCos received a total of N303.85 billion worth of electricity from the national grid in October. From this total, they issued bills to customers amounting to N255.19 billion. This represents an industry-wide billing efficiency of 83.9%, a slight decrease from the 86.43% achieved in September.
The NERC factsheet detailed, “Energy billed and billing efficiency: N303.85 billion (total energy received) and N255.19 billion (total energy billed); billing efficiency: 83.9 per cent.”
Of the total amount billed, the DisCos successfully collected N210.92 billion. This reflects an improved collection efficiency of approximately 82.6%, up from the 81.25% recorded in September, when N196.26 billion was collected from N241.54 billion billed.
The regulator summarized, “Revenue collection and collection efficiency: total billing N255.19 billion, total revenue collected N210.92 billion,” further pointing out a revenue shortfall of N44.27 billion. While still substantial, this gap was marginally smaller than the N45 billion deficit experienced in September.
There were significant variations in billing efficiencies among the 11 DisCos. NERC highlighted that Kano DisCo led the pack with 98.05%, followed by Eko (95.71%) and Ikeja (94.36%). The factsheet further specified, “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.”
[RELATED NEWS: CEPA Supports Nigeria’s Industrialisation Agenda; 2026 Budget: Aviation Ministry Allocates N5bn For New Headquarters, N1bn For Kano Terminal Expansion; Group Seeks Transparency In Trust Fund For Akwa Ibom Oil Communities; Nigeria’s Forex Earning Target Trimmed By Polarisation Of Global Energy Landscape]
NERC emphasized that these inconsistencies highlight the continuing operational hurdles faced by the DisCos, despite the increased volumes of electricity handled in October compared to the N279.45 billion received in September.
This uneven performance continues to put a strain on the financial stability of Nigeria’s power sector. NERC has cautioned that ongoing deficiencies in billing and collection impede the necessary payments to generation companies (GenCos) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
The regulatory body attributes some of the improvements to increased metering, which has now reached 56.07% nationally as of October 2025. They also cite the positive impact of initiatives such as the National Mass Metering Programme, alongside stricter regulatory enforcement.
