By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
POWER DISTRIBURING Companies (DisCos) announced it generated N196.26 billion in revenue for September, marking a 2.69 percent increase from the N191.11 billion collected in August, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The figures were detailed in the commission’s ‘DisCos commercial performance fact sheet’ for the month.
The report indicated that DisCos billed customers a total of N241.54billion in September, representing a 1.20 percent rise from the N238.67billion billed in August.
Collection efficiency improved slightly, rising to 81.25 percent from 80.07 percent in the previous month.
NERC’s factsheet also noted that the total energy received by DisCos amounted to N279.45billion during the period under review, a 1.82 percent decline from the N284.64billion received in August.
The commission reported that the average allowed tariff across all DisCos was N116.34 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while the actual average collection stood at N97.09 per kWh for September.
The NERC data highlights the relationship between billed amounts, revenue collection, and the energy received from the generation companies, providing a snapshot of the operational performance of the distribution companies across the country.
The factsheet underscores that despite marginal improvements in collection efficiency, the gap between the average allowed tariff and actual revenue collected per kWh remains, reflecting ongoing challenges in the power sector.
The commission did not provide reasons for the shortfall between billed amounts and actual collection, nor did it comment on the impact on consumer supply or service quality.
According to the report, all 11 DisCos contributed to the aggregated revenue and billing figures, though the factsheet does not break down the performance of individual companies.
NERC’s monthly monitoring aims to track trends in revenue generation, billing, collection efficiency, and the total energy received from generation companies, which is critical for sector planning and policy formulation.
The figures released by the commission show a moderate improvement in the financial performance of DisCos, with the rise in collection efficiency suggesting some gains in revenue mobilisation.
The difference between the billed amounts and revenue collected, however, indicates that some level of energy or financial losses persists within the distribution network.
The NERC fact sheet functions as an official record for regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders in the electricity sector to assess the commercial performance of power distribution companies and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
It provides monthly updates on revenue, billing, collection, energy received, and tariff implementation, supporting transparency and accountability within the sector.
Revenue collection, as indicated by the September figures, continues to be a key metric for evaluating the operational capacity of DisCos to maintain sustainable electricity distribution and meet payment obligations to generation companies.
The slightly higher collection efficiency compared to August signals incremental progress in recovering billed amounts from customers.
The factsheet’s figures serve as a benchmark for comparing monthly performance trends, allowing regulators to monitor growth in revenue, efficiency, and the effectiveness of tariff implementation.
The data also enables policymakers to identify areas requiring intervention, such as reducing losses, improving billing systems, or enhancing customer payment mechanisms.
The commission’s report confirms that the N196.26 billion collected in September was derived from the N241.54 billion billed, reflecting operational realities in the power sector.
By detailing both the revenue collected and the energy received by DisCos, NERC provides stakeholders with a comprehensive view of the financial and operational status of electricity distribution across Nigeria.
The monthly report emphasises the need for continuous monitoring of revenue and collection efficiency as critical components of ensuring the sustainability and reliability of power supply.
Tracking these metrics supports ongoing regulatory oversight and informs initiatives aimed at strengthening the performance of DisCos.
