Electricity distribution companies across Nigeria received more than 254,000 complaints from customers in the first quarter of 2025, mainly due to problems with prepaid meters, wrong bills, and unstable electricity supply, according to a report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The report shows a slight improvement compared to the previous quarter, which saw over 275,000 complaints. Still, metering issues topped the list, accounting for nearly 43% of all cases. Billing problems made up about 12%, while service interruptions were responsible for nearly 8% of the total.

Port Harcourt DisCo recorded the most complaints with over 57,000 cases, while Yola DisCo had the fewest, with just under 2,500. Other high-complaint areas included Eko, Ibadan, and Ikeja. Abuja DisCo, however, saw a sharp drop in reports—down 74% compared to the previous quarter.

Not all areas saw improvements. Kano DisCo recorded an 86% rise in complaints, followed by Kaduna, Yola, and Aba Power, which also experienced notable increases.

NERC said over N32 billion was refunded to customers who were overcharged in their bills during the period. Port Harcourt and Ikeja DisCos had the highest number of billing complaints received at NERC’s central office.

Eko DisCo led in metering complaints with nearly 18,000 cases, while Kano followed closely. Other issues raised included voltage irregularities, disconnections, load shedding, and delays in service.

In total, electricity companies collected over N553 billion in revenue during the quarter, despite widespread dissatisfaction over poor service and unstable power supply.

NERC pledged to boost its enforcement efforts and improve how DisCos handle customer complaints, adding that restoring trust in the power sector depends on better service and faster resolutions.