Nigeria DisCos lose N201.9bn unbilled power, billing efficiency at 78.7%
Nigeria’s 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) recorded N201.90 billion in billing losses during Q2 2026, as their combined billing efficiency fell to 78.67% from 79.24% in Q1. The DisCos received electricity valued at N946.57 billion but only billed customers N744.67 billion, leaving over N201 billion worth of supplied energy unbilled. Despite the drop in billing efficiency, collection efficiency improved to 81.06%, up from 78.95%, with DisCos recovering N603.64 billion of the N744.67 billion they billed.
NERC also reported that DisCos faced upstream invoices of N410.38 billion for generation and transmission services, remitting N385.44 billion (93.92% performance) and leaving an outstanding balance of N24.94 billion at quarter‑end. The remittance rate is slightly below the 94.08% recorded in Q1. For 2025, the DisCos supplied N3.68 trillion of electricity, billed N2.99 trillion and collected N2.32 trillion, meaning N694.8 billion was supplied but not billed and another N669.49 billion was billed but not recovered.
The government continues to address sector liabilities through the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, having issued the first bond in December 2025. Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said there is no immediate plan to raise electricity tariffs, focusing instead on stabilising the value chain and improving supply. With unbilled losses persisting, customers may need to consider alternative power sources or demand better metering and accountability from their DisCo.