Electricity distribution companies in Nigeria collected a total of ₦207.49 billion from customers in December 2025, according to new data released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The regulator disclosed the figures in its December commercial performance factsheet published on its website over the weekend in Abuja.
The report provides an overview of the financial performance of the 11 electricity distribution companies, commonly known as DisCos, that supply power to homes, businesses and industries across the country.
According to NERC, the companies billed electricity consumers a total of ₦258.66 billion during the month. Out of this amount, ₦207.49 billion was successfully collected.
This means that ₦51.17 billion worth of electricity bills remained unpaid by customers during the period under review.
The figures translate to a collection efficiency of 80.22 per cent across the electricity distribution companies connected to the national grid.
Collection efficiency refers to the percentage of billed electricity payments that power companies are able to recover from customers.
The regulator also disclosed that the distribution companies received electricity worth ₦309.65 billion from the national grid in December.
However, not all the electricity supplied to the companies was billed to customers.
Out of the total energy received, only ₦258.66 billion was billed, representing a billing efficiency of 83.53 per cent.
Billing efficiency measures the ability of electricity companies to convert the power supplied to them into actual bills sent to consumers.
The difference between the value of power received and the amount billed is often linked to technical losses, energy theft, faulty meters, and poor network infrastructure.
NERC said the actual average revenue realised by the distribution companies stood at ₦98.97 per kilowatt hour.
This is lower than the allowed average tariff of ₦124.30 per kilowatt hour set by the regulator.
As a result, the overall revenue recovery efficiency of the electricity distribution companies stood at 79.62 per cent.
Revenue recovery efficiency reflects how much of the approved tariff the companies are able to recover from customers through billing and collection.
A breakdown of the figures released by NERC shows that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company recorded the highest revenue collection in December.
The company collected ₦38.11 billion from electricity bills during the month.
This was out of a total of ₦46.68 billion billed to its customers, giving it a collection efficiency of 81.64 per cent.
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company also recorded strong performance during the month.
The company collected ₦38.01 billion from ₦41.41 billion billed, representing one of the highest collection efficiencies in the country at 91.79 per cent.
Similarly, Ikeja Electric collected ₦36.20 billion from ₦43.41 billion billed, achieving a collection efficiency of 83.38 per cent.
These three companies serve major commercial centres in the country, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, where electricity demand is high and many large businesses operate.
Other distribution companies also recorded varying levels of performance during the month.
The Benin Electricity Distribution Company collected ₦18.38 billion from ₦21.53 billion billed.
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company recovered ₦17.62 billion from ₦21.60 billion billed.
In the South-West region, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company collected ₦23.60 billion from ₦28.34 billion billed.
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company realised ₦17.57 billion from ₦23.08 billion billed.
These companies provide electricity to several states in southern Nigeria and supply power to millions of residential and commercial customers.
The report also showed lower revenue collection rates among some electricity distribution companies operating in parts of northern Nigeria.
For example, the Kano Electricity Distribution Company collected ₦8.98 billion out of ₦15.64 billion billed.
The Yola Electricity Distribution Company realised ₦3.55 billion from ₦4.25 billion billed during the month.
Meanwhile, the Jos Electricity Distribution Company recorded the lowest collection efficiency among the utilities.
The company collected only ₦5.43 billion from ₦12.67 billion billed in December, representing a collection efficiency of 42.92 per cent.
Industry experts say collection challenges in some regions are often linked to electricity theft, low metering levels, customer resistance to bill payments, and network challenges.
NERC also noted that data from the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company was not available in the December report.
The regulator said the absence of the data was due to an ongoing upgrade of the company’s billing system.
According to NERC, the upgrade is aimed at ensuring the company’s operations meet regulatory standards for electricity billing and data reporting.
Nigeria’s electricity industry has struggled with revenue collection and operational challenges for many years.
The sector was partly privatised in 2013 when the Federal Government transferred the management of electricity distribution companies to private investors.
The reform was aimed at improving power supply, attracting investment, and making the sector more efficient.
However, more than a decade after the privatisation, the industry continues to face major problems, including poor infrastructure, low metering levels, electricity theft, and difficulties in recovering revenue from customers.
Many consumers also complain about estimated billing, irregular power supply, and rising electricity tariffs.
These challenges have contributed to ongoing financial difficulties within the power sector.
Revenue collection remains critical for the survival of Nigeria’s electricity market.
Distribution companies use the money collected from customers to pay electricity generation companies and the Transmission Company of Nigeria for power supplied through the national grid.
When customers fail to pay their electricity bills, the entire power value chain is affected.
Industry stakeholders have repeatedly warned that poor revenue recovery could threaten the stability of the electricity market.
In recent years, NERC has introduced several reforms aimed at improving billing accuracy, increasing metering of customers, and reducing electricity theft.
The regulator has also encouraged distribution companies to invest in infrastructure and customer service to improve public confidence in the electricity system.
The Federal Government has continued to implement reforms aimed at improving electricity supply and financial stability in the sector.
These include programmes to expand metering across the country and policies designed to allow states to participate more actively in electricity generation and distribution.
For now, the latest NERC figures highlight both progress and continuing challenges within Nigeria’s power sector.
