{
  "id": 16539532,
  "title": "DISCOS AND ESTIMATED BILLING",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/discos-and-estimated-billing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T00:39:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/26/discos-and-estimated-billing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria have faced widespread criticism over their exploitative billing practices for years. Despite promises from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), millions of consumers, particularly those without pre-paid meters, continue to face estimated billing. This form of billing, which estimates rather than measures actual usage, often results in consumers being charged exorbitant amounts, sometimes up to 100% more when supply is inadequate. Recent data from NERC shows the national metering rate has risen slightly to 63.1% as of the end of August, with newly metered customers decreasing from 159,980 in July to 141,746 in August. However, disparities persist across DisCos, with only a few, like Eko, Ikeja, and Abuja, achieving over 80% metering rates. The remaining disorganized efforts in metering have led to dissatisfaction among consumers, who pay more for less power. The NERC has previously criticized the estimated billing system and the reluctance of DisCos to issue pre-paid meters, urging financial responsibility in addressing the metering gap. The situation has prompted consumer protests and demands for a more transparent and efficient billing process.",
  "summary": "The billing process should be measured and transparent For several years across the nation, there has been a chorus of protests over exploitative billing by the electricity distribution companies (DisCos).",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}