This is according to the fact sheet on electricity distribution companies’ performance in the month published by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Discos across the country billed customers up to ₦N176.57 billion.

The report also stated that Ikeja  DisCo received the highest revenue for the month at ₦30.06 billion, representing a billing efficiency rate of 102.44%.

It was followed by Eko Disco which recorded a billing efficiency ratio of 97.07% collecting up to N26.37 billion.

While Benin DisCo recorded the third-highest billing efficiency of 89.49%, Abuja Disco collected the third-highest revenue at N24.29 billion.

On the other hand, Yola DisCo recorded the lowest revenue collection efficiency rate as well as the lowest revenue among electricity distribution companies for the month at 60.81%.

This was followed by Jos and Kaduna DisCos at 62.03% and 66.46% respectively. Yola, Jos, and Kaduna DisCos collected N3.08, N4.96, and N5.01 billion respectively.

In terms of energy received and billed, the 11 electricity distribution companies received 2,190.12 GWh of electricity and billed up to 1,850.73 GWh, representing an energy billing efficiency rate of 85.44%.

In this regard, Enugu DisCo recorded the highest billing efficiency rate at 95.63% billing 153 GWh out of 160 GWh of energy billed.

This was followed by Yola and Ibadan DisCos respectively with billing efficiency rates of 92% and 90% respectively.

Furthermore, Kaduna, Jos, and Kano DisCos recorded the lowest energy billing efficiency rate in the month at 63.7%, 71.49%, and 79.03% respectively.

The DisCos revenue collection of N150 billion represents a significant increase from the period before the electricity tariff increase for Band A users.

 In April, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced an over 200% hike in electricity tariffs for Band A users who constitute about 17% of electricity consumers in the country.

According to the NERC, the tariff increases only affected customers who enjoy at least 20 hours of electricity daily.

In February, all Discos collected N97.01 billion out of the total billed amount of N113.05 billion. Ikeja Disco achieved the highest revenue collection efficiency for the month at 114.64%, collecting N19.48 billion from the N17.08 billion billed to customers.

Following Ikeja were Eko and Abuja Discos, with revenue collection efficiencies of 99.24% and 87.26%, respectively.

In the first quarter of 2024, the total revenue collected by Discos was N291.62 billion, a slight decrease from the N294.95 billion collected in Q4 2023.

AEDC has been fined ₦200,000,000 (Two Hundred Million Naira) for failure to comply with the prescribed customer band classifications for the tariff billing.

This decision, according to a statement on NERC’s X handle, follows a detailed review and customer feedback, which revealed that AEDC had applied the new tariff to all customer bands, contrary to the Order, which was designed to ensure fair billing practices.

The statement reads:

“AEDC is therefore mandated to:

“Reimburse all customers in Bands B, C, D and E respectively that were billed above the allowed customer categories/tariff bands provided in the Order.

“Reimburse through the provision of the balance of customer tokens that the affected customers would be entitled to receive at the applicable rates and all token reimbursements shall be issued to the affected customers by 11 April 2024.

“Pay the sum of ₦200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) as a fine for the flagrant breach of the Commission’s Order.

“File evidence of compliance with the directives in a & c with the Commission by 12 April 2024.

“The action by the Commission underscores its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring equitable practices within Nigeria’s electricity sector.

Signed

Management