PHCN in 2026: What Happened to NEPA and Who Supplies Your Light Now
Every single day, thousands of Nigerians type "PHCN online payment" or "NEPA bill" into Google — for a company that stopped existing more than a decade ago. Here's the short answer up front: PHCN was broken up and privatised in November 2013. The light in your house today comes through one of eleven private distribution companies — "discos" — and that disco, not PHCN, is who you pay. The good news: paying any of them now takes about two minutes online.
From NEPA to PHCN to your disco
The National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) ran Nigeria's entire power sector as a state monopoly for decades — generation, transmission and distribution, all under one roof. In 2005, as part of the power sector reform, NEPA was renamed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), a transitional holding company created specifically so the sector could be split up and sold.
That split completed on 1 November 2013. PHCN was unbundled into six generation companies (gencos), the government-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and eleven distribution companies (discos). The gencos make the power, TCN moves it across the national grid, and your disco delivers it to your street, reads your meter, and issues your bill. So when the neighbourhood still says "NEPA don bring light" — fine as slang, but the company on your bill is a disco.
Frequently asked questions
Does PHCN still exist?
No. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria was unbundled and privatised in November 2013. Its distribution role passed to regional electricity distribution companies (discos), which are the companies you deal with today.
Who do I pay my electricity bill to now?
The distribution company that covers your state — for example Ikeja Electric or Eko Electric in Lagos, AEDC in Abuja, EEDC in the South-East. You can pay any of them online through KinaTrust.
Is a 'NEPA bill' the same as a disco bill?
Yes. 'NEPA bill' survives as everyday slang for your electricity bill. Officially it is issued by your disco, and it's what banks and embassies mean when they ask for a utility bill as proof of address.
I don't know which disco covers my area. How do I find out?
Check any old bill or your prepaid meter card — the disco's name is printed on it. Otherwise match your state to the disco list in this article; each disco covers a fixed group of states.
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