Electrical energy distribution corporations obtained over 254,404 buyer complaints within the first quarter of 2025, largely pushed by grievances over defective metering, erratic service, and inaccurate billing, the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee has mentioned.
In its newly launched quarterly report, NERC revealed {that a} whole of 254,404 complaints had been lodged by shoppers between January and March 2025, marking a 7.72 per cent drop from the 275,681 complaints obtained within the earlier quarter.
The highest three points reported by clients had been metering (42.84 per cent ), billing (12.27 per cent), and repair interruption (7.66 per cent), cumulatively accounting for over 62 per cent of all complaints recorded.
Regardless of the slight decline in whole numbers, NERC famous that Port Harcourt DisCo obtained the very best variety of complaints with 57,843 circumstances, representing 22.74 per cent of the nationwide whole.
Yola DisCo obtained the least at 2,495 complaints, or 0.98 per cent. Different prime criticism locations included Eko (36,780), Ibadan (42,393), and Ikeja (25,555). Abuja, which had logged 23,963 complaints within the earlier quarter, noticed a dramatic drop to six,225, a 74 per cent decline, the steepest amongst all DisCos.
The report learn, “The whole variety of complaints obtained in 2025/Q1 was 254,404 throughout all DisCos; this represents a 7.72 per cent lower in comparison with the 275,681 obtained in 2024/This fall.
Port Harcourt DisCo obtained the very best variety of complaints (57,843), representing 22.74 per cent of whole complaints obtained. Yola DisCo obtained the least variety of complaints (2,495), representing 0.98 per cent of whole complaints obtained.
“Six DisCos recorded declines within the variety of buyer complaints obtained in 2025/Q1 in comparison with 2024/This fall. Abuja (-74.02 per cent), Benin (-30.17 per cent), and Jos (-29.16 per cent) DisCos recorded essentially the most reductions. Kano (+86.12 per cent), Kaduna (+37.33 per cent), Yola (+30.15 per cent), Aba Energy (+17.16 per cent), Ikeja (+9.98 per cent) and Port Harcourt (+5.78 per cent) DisCos then again recorded will increase within the variety of buyer complaints obtained between 2024/This fall and 2025/Q1.
“The commonest points among the many 254,404 complaints obtained by DisCos in 2025/Q1 had been metering (42.84 per cent), billing (12.27 per cent) and repair interruption (7.66 per cent). These three (3) classes cumulatively accounted for 62.77 per cent of the entire complaints within the quarter.”
NERC’s evaluation additionally confirmed that whereas six DisCos recorded drops in complaints, others noticed sharp will increase. Notably, Kano Electrical energy Distribution Firm skilled an 86 per cent spike, rising from 17,328 complaints in This fall 2024 to 32,251 in Q1 2025. Kaduna (+37.3 per cent), Yola (+30.15 per cent), and Aba Energy (+17.16 per cent) additionally noticed marked will increase.
The fee mentioned complaints about billing, the second-most frequent class, led to buyer refunds totalling N32.2bn within the first quarter alone. The quantity was credited to clients’ accounts after verified overbilling claims.
Port Harcourt additionally topped the billing complaints chart with 5,260 circumstances, along with receiving the very best variety of complaints within the “Others” class (28,959). Eko DisCo recorded 17,972 metering complaints, 4,497 service interruptions, and 11,562 others.
Ibadan DisCo noticed a major variety of metering points at 3,200 however was most hit by “Others” at 25,940, suggesting a variety of further unresolved points. Different classes of concern embody voltage points (3,900 circumstances), load shedding (202 circumstances), disconnections (1,417 circumstances), and delays (736 circumstances).
Notably, Kano DisCo, which obtained 32,251 complaints, reported 25,988 metering-related points, the second-highest in that class after Eko. On the central criticism unit of the fee, a further 4,169 complaints had been obtained immediately, with billing, metering, and interruption nonetheless dominating the suggestions.
Port Harcourt and Ikeja DisCos had the very best billing-related complaints recorded on the NERC CCU, with 91 and 283, respectively. Abuja adopted intently with 194 complaints.
Whereas commenting on the event, NERC mentioned, “The credit score adjustment on clients’ payments, following resolved complaints, is a powerful indicator of our dedication to client safety and accountability within the energy sector.”
The regulator additionally reiterated its plan to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and customer support protocols throughout all 11 DisCos to make sure quicker decision of complaints and scale back recurring grievances.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with energy provide inconsistencies, specialists consider addressing buyer suggestions in actual time can be important to restoring public belief within the electrical energy sector.
The distribution corporations collected N553.63bn within the first quarter of 2025 regardless of widespread complaints of low energy provide, billing inefficiencies, and chronic outages. This leap in earnings got here at the same time as Nigerians grappled with unreliable electrical energy, grid frequency instability, and provide fluctuations.
