Data contained in NERC’s commercial performance factsheets show that the 11 DisCos generated ₦204.74 billion in January, ₦196.68 billion in February, ₦196.13 billion in March, and ₦203.61 billion in April, bringing total collections for the period to ₦801.16 billion.
Despite the strong revenue performance, electricity supply remained inconsistent throughout the period, with generation shortfalls largely linked to gas supply constraints forcing widespread load shedding, particularly in February and March.
The regulator also revealed that DisCos billed customers a total of ₦1.01 trillion over the four months but were only able to recover ₦801.16 billion, leaving a revenue gap of ₦207.77 billion.
In January alone, ₦268.20 billion was billed, of which ₦204.74 billion was recovered, leaving ₦63.46 billion unpaid. Billing efficiency stood at 79.72 per cent, while collection efficiency was 76.34 per cent.
February saw total billings drop to ₦242.29 billion, with ₦196.68 billion collected. This resulted in an uncollected balance of ₦45.61 billion, while billing efficiency improved to 87.44 per cent and collection efficiency rose to 81.17 per cent.
In March, DisCos billed ₦246.43 billion and collected ₦196.13 billion, leaving ₦50.30 billion outstanding. Efficiency rates stood at 83.89 per cent for billing and 79.59 per cent for collections.
April recorded a slight increase in billings to ₦252.43 billion, with ₦203.61 billion recovered. This left ₦48.82 billion uncollected, with billing efficiency at 83.32 per cent and collection efficiency at 80.66 per cent.
NERC data further indicated that significant volumes of electricity supplied to distribution companies were not billed during the period, highlighting ongoing metering gaps and commercial losses across the sector.
Among the operators, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company emerged as one of the best performers, recording a recovery efficiency of 102.09 per cent in April. Other strong performers included the Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ikeja and Benin DisCos, all of which posted recovery rates above 85 per cent.
However, Kaduna, Kano and Jos DisCos continued to underperform. Kaduna recorded a recovery efficiency of 43.15 per cent in April, while Kano and Jos posted 51.87 per cent and 52.48 per cent respectively.
The revenue figures come against the backdrop of prolonged electricity shortages during the first quarter of the year, when generation levels fell sharply due to inadequate gas supply.
At several points, national electricity output dropped from around 4,000 megawatts to below 2,000MW, forcing the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to ration supply across distribution companies.
Operational data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator showed that thermal plants require about 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to function optimally. However, supply dropped to about 692 million standard cubic feet per day as of 23 February—less than half of what is required.
DisCos consistently attributed widespread outages during the period to generation shortfalls linked to gas shortages.
Although power supply showed signs of gradual recovery towards the end of April, consumers continue to express frustration over high tariffs, estimated billing, and poor service delivery.
Industry stakeholders have continued to call for improved metering, reduced energy theft, and increased investment in infrastructure to strengthen both the financial and operational performance of the sector.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) has stated that electricity providers are not permitted to recover charges older than 12 months. The regulator made this clarification in a consumer awareness notice published on its official social media platforms.
It added that exceptions would only apply in cases involving meter tampering, illegal consumption, or obstruction of meter reading.
“Electricity supply licensees cannot recover charges older than 12 months, except in cases of meter tampering, illegal use, and obstruction of meter reading,” LASERC stated.
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