Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) generated a combined N801.16 billion in revenue from electricity consumers between January and April 2026, despite months of widespread blackouts and unstable power supply across Nigeria, according to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
NERC’s commercial performance reports showed that the 11 DisCos collected N204.74 billion in January, N196.68 billion in February, N196.13 billion in March and N203.61 billion in April, bringing total collections for the four-month period to N801.16 billion.
The revenue was recorded even as households and businesses faced prolonged power outages, largely driven by gas shortages that reduced electricity generation and forced extensive load shedding, particularly in February and March.
The regulator’s data showed that the DisCos billed customers N1.01 trillion during the period but recovered N801.16 billion, leaving about N207.77 billion in outstanding revenue.
In January, customers were billed N268.20 billion, with N204.74 billion recovered, leaving N63.46 billion outstanding. February billings stood at N242.29 billion, while collections reached N196.68 billion, leaving N45.61 billion unpaid. In March, the companies billed N246.43 billion and recovered N196.13 billion, with N50.30 billion outstanding. April recorded billings of N252.43 billion and collections of N203.61 billion, leaving N48.82 billion uncollected.
The reports also highlighted continued metering gaps and commercial losses, with significant volumes of electricity supplied to the DisCos remaining unbilled.
Among the distribution companies, Eko Electricity Distribution Company recorded one of the strongest performances, posting a recovery efficiency of 102.09 per cent in April. Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ikeja and Benin DisCos also achieved recovery efficiencies above 85 per cent.
However, Kaduna, Kano and Jos DisCos remained the weakest performers. Kaduna recorded a recovery efficiency of 43.15 per cent, while Kano and Jos posted 51.87 per cent and 52.48 per cent, respectively.
The strong revenue performance came amid a severe decline in electricity generation during the first quarter of the year, when inadequate gas supply forced several thermal power plants to shut down or scale back operations. National generation at times dropped from about 4,000 megawatts to below 2,000 megawatts, prompting the Transmission Company of Nigeria to ration available electricity.
Operational data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator showed that thermal plants require about 1.63 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day to operate optimally. However, as of February 23, only about 692 million standard cubic feet per day was supplied, representing less than 43 per cent of the required volume.
Although electricity supply improved gradually toward the end of April, consumers have continued to raise concerns over high tariffs, estimated billing and poor service delivery. Industry stakeholders have also renewed calls for improved metering, reduced energy theft and increased investment in electricity infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) has reminded consumers that electricity supply licensees cannot recover charges that are more than 12 months old, except in cases involving meter tampering, illegal electricity use or obstruction of meter reading.
