The Federal Government of Nigeria incurred electricity subsidy to the tune of N418.79bn in the fourth quarter of 2025.
This was revealed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), even as inefficiencies across the electricity value chain led to losses exceeding N300bn during the period.
This was contained in the commission’s 2025 fourth-quarter report, which also highlighted declining remittances, high distribution losses, grid instability, and a marginal drop in available generation capacity.
According to the report, total invoices issued by generation companies for electricity produced in the quarter amounted to N804.93bn. However, due to non-cost-reflective tariffs, the government absorbed 52.30 per cent of the cost.
The commission stated,
“It is important to note that due to the absence of cost-reflective tariffs across all DisCos, the government incurred a subsidy obligation of N418.79bn; this represents a N39.96bn (-8.71 per cent) reduction in FGN subsidy compared to 2025/Q3.”
The report added that the subsidy covered more than half of generation costs, leaving distribution companies to pay only N386.13bn.
“The government subsidy accounted for 52.30 per cent of the total GenCo invoice, which is a 6.60pp decrease compared to 2025/Q3,” the commission noted.
Despite the intervention, the sector recorded significant commercial losses. While the total value of electricity supplied to distribution companies stood at N969.19bn, only N795.06bn was billed to customers.
“The naira value of the total energy offtake by all DisCos in 2025/Q4 was N969.19bn, and the total energy billed was N795.06bn, which translates to a billing efficiency of 82.03 per cent.
The billing efficiency of 82.03 per cent recorded during the quarter represents a decrease of 0.66pp compared to 2025/Q3 (82.69 per cent). At an aggregate level, DisCos cumulatively recorded billing losses of N174.12bn in 2025/Q4,” the report said.
In addition, high aggregate technical, commercial, and collection losses further weakened sector finances.
“The weighted average ATC&C loss across all DisCos in 2025/Q4 was 34.9 per cent, translating to a cumulative revenue loss of N139.19bn across all DisCos,” the report noted.
Combined, the billing losses of N174.12bn and ATC&C revenue losses of N139.19bn indicate inefficiency-driven losses of over N300bn during the quarter. The report also showed that distribution companies received 7,991.22GWh of electricity but billed customers for only 6,614.57GWh, indicating persistent energy accounting inefficiencies.
“Although the total energy received by all DisCos in 2025/Q4 was 7,991.22GWh, the energy billed to end-use customers was only 6,614.57GWh,” it stated.
Collection performance also declined compared to the previous quarter. Market remittances to upstream participants also weakened. DisCos were required to remit N471.66bn but paid only N437.27bn, leaving an outstanding balance of N34.39bn.
This translates to a remittance performance of 92.71 per cent in 2025/Q4 compared to the 95.21 per cent recorded in 2025/Q3.
On operational performance, the commission said available generation capacity averaged 5,400.38 megawatts, representing a slight decline from the third quarter, with several plants recording reduced output.
Seventeen power plants recorded decreases in available generation capacities in 2025/Q4 relative to 2025/Q3, it said.
However, energy generation improved during the quarter. Average hourly generation increased to 4,452.71MWh/h, resulting in total generation of 9,831.58GWh.
“The average hourly generation of the grid-connected power plants increased by 273.56MWh/h (+6.55 per cent),” the report stated.
Grid stability concerns also persisted. System frequency and voltage levels fell outside prescribed operating limits.
“In 2025/Q4, the average lower daily (49.38Hz) and average upper daily (50.65Hz) system frequencies were outside the normal operating limits,” the commission said.
The report stated that there was one incident of system disturbance on the national grid in 2025/Q4. A partial collapse of the grid occurred on December 29. The commission warned that the current subsidy regime exposes government finances to uncertainty.
“The current open-ended subsidy regime leaves the FGN exposed to indeterminate subsidy obligation,” it stated, citing generation cost variations and supply mix as key drivers.
The report added that the Q4 subsidy declined partly due to increased energy allocation to premium customers on Band A feeders. “The key driver of this reduction is the increase in energy allocated to Band A customers from 40 per cent to 45 per cent,” the commission said.
(Source: Punch)
