The eleven Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) in Nigeria reported a staggering loss of N28.97 billion due to unpaid electricity bills in July 2024.
This information was revealed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in its Commercial Performance of Discos Factsheet for the month.
The N28.97 billion loss accounts for 17.74 percent of the total electricity bills issued during the period, indicating significant challenges in revenue collection. Despite this, the Discos achieved a collection efficiency of 82.26 percent, garnering N162.12 billion from a total of N197.11 billion in issued bills.
Ikeja, Eko, and Abuja Discos led the pack in bill collections, bringing in N33.98 billion, N28.35 billion, and N25.16 billion, respectively. Conversely, Aba Disco recorded the lowest collection, with only N1.34 billion in electricity bills.
This financial struggle occurs amidst ongoing concerns regarding inadequate power supply in Nigeria, where the national grid provides an average of only 5,000 megawatts for a population exceeding 250 million. The situation underscores the need for systemic reforms to enhance both service delivery and revenue generation within the electricity sector.
