… as Ikeja leads with 102% collection efficiency, Jos trails at 38.95%
“If DisCos struggle at 40%, they’ll collapse at 100% collection without electricity subsidy – Adegbemle, PowerUp
Oredola Adeola
Liquidity challenges in Nigeria’s power sector persisted in July 2025, with the 11 DisCos and Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE) posting a ₦49.18 billion revenue shortfall, as Ikeja Electric led performance with over 102% collection efficiency, while Kaduna and Jos DisCos trailed at 45.41% and 38.95%, respectively.
This was revealed in the July 2025 Commercial Performance Factsheet released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and analysed by Advisors Reports.
The review of the document showed that the revenue shortfall of ₦49.18 billion recorded in July 2025 showed an improvement compared to the ₦55.74 billion shortfall recorded in June 2025.
Ikeja Electric led the pack with a total billing of ₦40.03 billion, collected ₦40.84 billion, and recorded a billing efficiency of 102.05 percent, buoyed by the recovery of outstanding arrears in addition to current charges.
Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo) billed ₦38.75 billion during the period but collected ₦33.54 billion, translating to a collection efficiency of 86.56 percent.
Benin Electricity Distribution Company (Benin DisCo) recorded a total billing of ₦17.77 billion, collecting ₦15.13 billion to achieve a collection efficiency of 95.19 percent.
Ibadan DisCo billed ₦25.24 billion during the period but collected ₦20.90 billion, translating to a collection efficiency of 82.81 percent.
Abuja DisCo followed closely, with ₦37.93 billion billed and ₦30.44 billion collected, posting an efficiency of 80.26 percent.
Enugu DisCo recorded a billing of ₦18.97 billion and realised ₦14.86 billion, reflecting 78.34 percent efficiency.
Port Harcourt DisCo posted 76.07 percent efficiency, having collected ₦14.33 billion out of a billing of ₦18.84 billion.
Yola DisCo achieved 67.80 percent efficiency, with ₦3.15 billion collections against ₦4.65 billion billed.
At the bottom of the table, Aba DisCo recorded 61.81 percent efficiency, collecting ₦3.45 billion from a billing of ₦5.58 billion, while Kano DisCo achieved 58.61 percent efficiency, collecting ₦8.82 billion out of ₦15.05 billion billed.
Kaduna DisCo posted a collection efficiency of just 45.41 percent, collecting ₦3.87 billion against ₦8.52 billion billed.
Jos DisCo recorded the weakest performance in the sector, with only ₦4.59 billion collected from a total billing of ₦11.81 billion, representing a dismal 38.95 percent efficiency in July 2025.
Mr. Adetayo Adegbemle, Executive Director of electricity advocacy group PowerUp, cautioned that the performance ratings were based on only about 40 percent of the energy delivered to DisCos, while the remaining portion is treated as tariff shortfall to be paid by the Federal Government.
He warned that if DisCos are struggling to meet obligations on just 40 percent, their survival would be in serious doubt once tariff shortfall payments are removed and they are required to recover 100 percent of the Collection Rate Target (CRT).
“The sector still has a long way to go in terms of sustainability,” Adegbenle said, noting that the CRT stands at ₦210/kWh, while the average allowed tariff is ₦116/kWh and the average recovery rate is just ₦89/kWh.
