Nigeria started using electric power in 1886 when two (2) generating sets were installed to serve the then Colony of Lagos. By an Act of Parliament in 1951, The Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) was established in 1951. In 1962, the Niger Dams Authority (NDA) was also established for the development of hydroelectric power. The 2 organizations were merged in 1972 leading to the establishment of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). NEPA was saddled with the responsibility of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity across the country. Electric Power Sector Reform Act was enacted in 2005, leading to the renaming of NEPA to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), and unbundling of the power sector.
The Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act was signed into law in March 2005, enabling private companies to participate in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. The government unbundled PHCN into 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos), 6 generating companies (GenCos), and a transmission company (TCN). The Act also created the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as an independent regulator for the sector.
In January 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced that it has granted additional 17 licenses to independent power distribution network operators in the country of which 11 out them are already operational.
This brings the number of power distribution companies in Nigeria to 22.
List of DisCos in Nigeria
- Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AED)
- Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDC)
- Ikeja Electric (IKEDC)
- Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc (EEDC)
- Indian Electricity Distribution Plc (IBEDC)
- Benin Electricity Distribution Company
- Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JEDC)
- Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc (KAEDC)
- Kano Electricity Distribution Plc (KEDC)
- Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc (PHEDC)
- Yola Electricity Distribution Plc (YEDC)
- Gateway Electricity Limited
- Energy Company of Nigeria Plc
- PIPP LVI Disco Limited
- Bodituv Nigeria Limited
- Uraga Power Distribution Company
- Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Ltd
- Ladol Integrated Logistics Free Zone Enterprise
- Babcock Consulting Limited
- Constant Independent Electric Power Distribution Company Ltd
- Alausa Distribution Limited
- Notore Industrial City Limited