DisCos failed to bill N568.7bn of electricity in the first eight months of 2026

Nigeria's electricity distribution companies did not bill for about N568.7bn worth of power in the first eight months of 2026, according to an analysis of regulator data by BusinessDay.

The analysis of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission's January to August report covered 11 DisCos. They received power worth N2.58tn from generation companies but billed customers N2.01tn, which means they billed for about 78 per cent of the value they received.

The figures show a slide through the year. In the first quarter the companies received N955.19bn and billed N756.93bn, a billing efficiency of 79.24 per cent. Between April and June it fell to 78.67 per cent. In July and August they received N680.43bn and billed N511.89bn, or 75.23 per cent.

Electricity market analyst Lanre Elatuyi told the paper that NERC should impose stiffer penalties on DisCos that fall below industry targets. He said the widening gap also weakens efforts to bring private capital into distribution, where investors are expected to improve networks, expand metering and strengthen commercial operations.

The report adds that the shortfall comes at a time of financial strain across the market, with distribution companies paying generation companies less than the value of invoices issued for the power supplied.