• Discos receive N205.53bn out of N333.94bn energy supplied
• Grid utilises 86% of available generation capacity
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Nigeria’s Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) failed to collect N128.41 billion from the value of energy supplied to their networks in July 2026, highlighting the depth of the liquidity crisis in the power sector, even as grid-connected plants utilised 86 per cent of total capacity in August.
According to the latest commercial and operational performance factsheets released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the 11 Discos received energy worth N333.94 billion during the month but billed customers N250.79 billion and collected N205.53 billion.
The figures translated to a billing efficiency of 75.10 per cent, a 1.14 percentage point decline from June, while collection efficiency stood at 81.95 per cent.
NERC also reported that actual collections averaged N97.50 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), significantly below the approved average tariff of N130.15/kWh. Overall revenue recovery efficiency was therefore 74.91 per cent, although this represented a 0.67 percentage point improvement from the previous month.
The commercial performance varied widely among the Discos, with Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) recording the highest recovery efficiency at 94.67 per cent.
EKEDC received energy valued at N43.45 billion, billed N34.17 billion and collected N34.78 billion. Its billing efficiency was 78.63 per cent, while collection efficiency stood at 101.78 per cent. The Disco’s actual collection averaged N133.29/kWh against an allowed tariff of N140.80/kWh.
Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company recorded the second-highest recovery efficiency at 84.95 per cent, collecting N18.03 billion from N21.29 billion billed on energy worth N25.86 billion received.
Its billing efficiency was 82.34 per cent, collection efficiency 84.69 per cent, while actual collection averaged N105.16/kWh compared with an allowed tariff of N123.80/kWh.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) recorded the highest billing volume, billing N43.96 billion from N56.77 billion worth of energy received. It collected N35.62 billion, translating to 77.45 per cent billing efficiency and 81.03 per cent collection efficiency.
Ikeja Electric received N53.23 billion worth of energy, billed N39.54 billion and collected N34.73 billion. The figures represented billing and collection efficiencies of 74.28 per cent and 87.85 per cent respectively, while recovery efficiency stood at 76.60 per cent.
Besides, Ibadan Disco billed N28.33 billion from N40.17 billion worth of energy received and collected N24.35 billion, recording 85.97 per cent collection efficiency and 74.59 per cent recovery efficiency.
But the weaker commercial performance was concentrated among some northern Discos.
Kaduna Electric recorded the lowest recovery efficiency, receiving N16.33 billion worth of energy but billing only N10.46 billion. It collected N5.22 billion, representing billing efficiency of 64.08 per cent, collection efficiency of 49.95 per cent and recovery efficiency of 39.71 per cent.
Besides, Jos Disco received N15.65 billion, billed N10.72 billion and collected N5.65 billion, resulting in 52.70 per cent collection efficiency and 46.27 per cent recovery efficiency.
In the same vein, Kano Disco received N18.34 billion, billed N15.66 billion and collected N8.26 billion, recording 85.37 per cent billing efficiency, 52.79 per cent collection efficiency and 55.41 per cent recovery efficiency.
On grid operations, NERC’s August 2026 factsheet showed that the national grid utilised 86 per cent of available generation capacity, with plants dispatching an average 4,102MW from 4,758MW available.
Several generating plants recorded high load factors during the month. Omoku 1 and Olorunsogo 1 operated at 100 per cent, generating 35MW and 115MW respectively, while Trans Amadi 1 also recorded a 100 per cent load factor.
Among hydro plants, Kainji 1 dispatched 345MW from 352MW available, representing a 98 per cent load factor, while Dadin-Kowa 1 generated 35MW from 36MW available. Shiroro 1 recorded 87 per cent, dispatching 381MW from 438MW, while Jebba 1 operated at 83 per cent with 404MW from 489MW available.
Zungeru 1 recorded a 72 per cent load factor, generating 404MW from 564MW available. Among major thermal plants, Afam 2 generated 262MW from 265MW available, recording a 99 per cent load factor, while Omotosho 1 also recorded 99 per cent after dispatching 148MW from 149MW available.
Egbin 1 generated 333MW from 347MW available, translating to a 96 per cent load factor. Sapele Steam 1 recorded 92 per cent, Ihovbor 2 92 per cent, Geregu 1 91 per cent, Rivers 1 90 per cent and Omotosho 2 88 per cent.
However, Sapele 2, Alaoji 1, Geregu 2 and Ibom Power 1 recorded zero generation during the month.
The operational data also pointed to significant instability on the national grid, with frequency falling to 49.34Hz and rising to 50.67Hz during August, outside NERC’s prescribed operational range of 49.75Hz to 50.25Hz.
Grid voltage similarly moved outside the regulatory range of 313.50kV to 346.50kV, falling to 302.29kV and rising as high as 349.68kV.