DISCOs in Nigeria: who supplies your light?
If you still say NEPA or PHCN, you are not alone. Today your light comes from a distribution company, or DISCO. Nigeria has 11 main ones, and each covers a set of states. Find yours below, see how supply is banded, and learn where to take a complaint.
From NEPA to PHCN to your DISCO
- NEPA (National Electric Power Authority) ran generation, transmission and distribution as a government monopoly.
- PHCN (Power Holding Company of Nigeria) replaced NEPA in 2005 when the power sector was reformed and split into separate companies.
- DISCOs took over PHCN's distribution business when it was privatised in 2013. The grid itself, called transmission, stays with the government's Transmission Company of Nigeria.
The 11 DISCOs and the states they cover
| DISCO | Covers |
|---|---|
AEDC Abuja Electricity Distribution Company | FCT (Abuja), Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi AEDC has created state subsidiaries, including Niger and Kogi companies. |
BEDC Benin Electricity Distribution Company | Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti |
EEDC Enugu Electricity Distribution Company | Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo Aba, in Abia State, is served separately by the private Aba Power. |
EKEDC Eko Electricity Distribution Company | Lagos Serves the southern and island parts of Lagos, such as Lagos Island, Lekki, Ajah, Apapa, Festac and Badagry. |
IBEDC Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company | Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara Also serves some areas in neighbouring states. |
IE Ikeja Electric | Lagos Serves the northern and mainland parts of Lagos, such as Ikeja, Ikorodu, Shomolu, Oshodi and Abule-Egba. |
JED Jos Electricity Distribution Company | Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Gombe |
KAEDCO Kaduna Electric | Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara |
KEDCO Kano Electricity Distribution Company | Kano, Katsina, Jigawa |
PHED Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution | Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom |
YEDC Yola Electricity Distribution Company | Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe |
Licence areas as long established. Borders follow feeders, so a few areas sit with a neighbouring company. Under the Electricity Act 2023 several states now regulate their own markets and DISCOs are creating state subsidiaries, so confirm on your bill. UpNepa is independent and is not affiliated with any DISCO.
How to find your DISCO
- Check your bill or prepaid token receipt. It names the company.
- Look up your state in the table above. In Lagos two companies share the state, depending on the area.
- Switch on the DISCO layer on the UpNepa map to see the boundaries.
- For these big cities, see our pages: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan, Enugu, Benin City, Kaduna, Jos, Owerri.
Supply bands: how many hours should you get?
The regulator groups feeders into bands by the hours of supply they are meant to receive each day. Customers on a higher band pay a higher tariff for better supply. If you pay for a band you do not receive, you can raise it as a complaint.
Band A
at least 20 hours a day
Band B
at least 16 hours a day
Band C
at least 12 hours a day
Band D
at least 8 hours a day
Band E
at least 4 hours a day
Bands and tariffs are reviewed, so check your DISCO or the regulator for the current rules.
Reporting a fault or a billing problem
- Use the customer care channels printed on your bill, and write down the date, time and any reference number you are given.
- Describe what you see: no light on one house, the whole street, or only low voltage. A street-wide fault usually means a transformer or feeder problem.
- If the company does not respond, escalate to the regulator, which is NERC or your state's electricity regulator.
- UpNepa shows what neighbours report but cannot fix faults. Add your own report on the map so others see the pattern, and check whether there is light in your area now.
Tired of waiting for the DISCO?
Many households add a backup. Try the solar and inverter size calculator or see whether solar beats your generator on cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DISCO?
A DISCO is an electricity distribution company. It buys power from the generation companies through the national grid, then delivers it to homes and businesses through its own lines, transformers and meters, and bills you for it. Nigeria has 11 main DISCOs, each with its own licence area.
Is PHCN still there?
PHCN, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, was split up and sold. The government privatised the distribution and generation businesses in 2013, and the new DISCOs took over PHCN's distribution network. People still say PHCN or NEPA out of habit, but the company that bills you today is your DISCO.
What was NEPA?
NEPA, the National Electric Power Authority, was the government monopoly that generated and supplied electricity. It became PHCN in 2005 under the Electric Power Sector Reform Act. That is why many Nigerians still say NEPA took the light.
How do I know which DISCO serves my area?
Look at your electricity bill or prepaid meter token receipt, which names your DISCO. You can also check the table on this page or switch on the DISCO layer on the UpNepa map. Borders follow feeders and local government areas, so houses near a boundary can belong to the neighbouring company.
Why does my bill name a different company from the table?
Since the Electricity Act 2023, many states regulate their own electricity markets, and DISCOs are setting up separate subsidiary companies for each state they cover. The company name on your bill may be a state subsidiary of the DISCO listed here. Your bill is the reliable source.
Where do I report a fault or a billing problem?
Start with your DISCO's customer care channels shown on your bill, and keep a note of the date and any reference number. If you are not satisfied, you can escalate to the regulator, which is NERC or, in states that now regulate their own markets, the state electricity regulator. UpNepa is independent and cannot fix faults or billing.