# How to complain about a power outage in Nigeria: DisCo, Forum Office and NERC in 3 steps > Outages are blamed on gas and low dam water, but billing and service complaints still go through a three-step NERC process: DisCo, Forum Office, then NERC head office. Business · Binatec Pulse · David Banjo · Published 2026-11-09T13:36:15.000Z · Updated 2026-11-09T12:44:11Z Canonical: https://pulse.binatecagency.com/business/how-to-complain-power-outage-disco-nerc-nigeria ## Key points - Start with a written complaint at your DisCo's Customer Complaints Unit and get an acknowledgement. - NERC says the DisCo should resolve it within 15 working days, depending on complexity. - Unresolved? Go to your NERC Forum Office, then NERC head office. - NISO blames the latest supply drop on gas shortfalls and low water at hydro stations. If your area has been in darkness this week, you are not alone. Distribution companies (DisCos) have [apologised to Nigerians over the outages](https://www.channelstv.com/2026/11/09/discos-apologise-to-nigerians-over-power-outages/), and the national system operator says the cause is a supply squeeze, not a single grid failure. But an apology does not restore power or fix a wrong bill. What you can do is lodge a formal complaint. This guide follows the three-step process set out by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in its [complaints and redress procedure](https://nerc.gov.ng/faq/complaints-and-redress-procedure/), which was current on 9 November 2026. ## Why is there so little electricity right now? The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) said in a statement on Thursday 5 November that the latest supply drop came from insufficient gas reaching thermal plants and low water levels at hydroelectric stations, [according to Within Nigeria's report](https://www.withinnigeria.com/2026/11/07/niso-explains-nigerias-power-supply-decline-gas-shortage-low-water-levels/). Less generation means less electricity allocated to DisCos, which means fewer supply hours and more load shedding. The federal government said it was not a major or systemic grid failure, and named Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo among the affected areas. Low generation is a legitimate reason for load shedding, and no complaint will put gas into a power plant or water behind a dam. It is not a reason for a wrong bill, a fixed-charge estimate you cannot explain, or an unanswered report. Those are the issues the complaints process exists for, and a documented complaint is also how problems on your own feeder become visible to the regulator. ## How to report a power outage: how do I file a complaint with my DisCo? Start with your DisCo's Customer Complaints Unit (CCU). NERC says you should file a written complaint at the nearest CCU of your distribution company, and get an acknowledgement, because you may need it if the matter is escalated ([NERC](https://nerc.gov.ng/faq/complaints-and-redress-procedure/)). - Write down your account or meter number, your address and the feeder or transformer if you know it. - Describe the problem in dates and hours: when the supply went, for how long, and what it cost you. - Attach bills, vending receipts or photos that support the complaint. - Ask for a written acknowledgement or a reference number before you leave or hang up. NERC says the DisCo should resolve the complaint within 15 working days, depending on how complex it is ([NERC](https://nerc.gov.ng/faq/complaints-and-redress-procedure/)). ## Step 2: what if my DisCo does not fix it? If the answer is unsatisfactory or the deadline passes, take the complaint to the NERC Consumer Forum Office in your area. NERC describes the Forum Offices as the place that handles complaints the CCUs have not resolved, and lists them on its [Forum Offices page](https://nerc.gov.ng/forum-offices/). Bring your acknowledgement, the DisCo's reply (if any) and your supporting documents. If there is no Forum Office near you, NERC says you can file a formal letter with supporting documents, or send an email, for a complaint that the CCU has not resolved ([NERC](https://nerc.gov.ng/faq/complaints-and-redress-procedure/)). ## Step 3: when should I go to NERC head office? If you are not satisfied with the Forum's decision, you can send the complaint details to NERC head office, which reviews the complaint, including how the DisCo and the Forum handled it. Contact details are on [NERC's contact page](https://nerc.gov.ng/contact-nerc). The NERC page does not give a time limit for the Forum or head office stages, so ask each office how long it expects to take and keep that answer in writing. ## What other problems can I report? NERC says electricity tampering should be reported at the nearest DisCo service centre, or through the DisCo's whistleblower or customer service numbers. Disconnections for non-payment are governed by the Customer Protection Regulation 2023, which is available on the NERC website ([NERC](https://nerc.gov.ng/faq/complaints-and-redress-procedure/)). ## Tips that make a complaint harder to ignore - Put everything in writing and keep a copy, including dates and names of anyone you speak to. - Complain about one clear issue at a time (a wrong bill, a faulty meter, a prolonged outage on your feeder) rather than everything at once. - Keep vending receipts and monthly bills. They are the evidence for any billing dispute. - Share the reference number in every follow-up so each office can trace the file. - Go through the steps in order. NERC's process starts at the DisCo, then the Forum, then head office. These tips are practical suggestions, not official rules. The binding steps and timelines are the ones NERC publishes, so check its website for changes before you file. ## Will the outages end soon? NISO has not given a date for full recovery. [Within Nigeria reports](https://www.withinnigeria.com/2026/11/07/niso-explains-nigerias-power-supply-decline-gas-shortage-low-water-levels/) that improved gas supply and better dam water levels are needed, and that generation recovered slightly to about 3,689MW at the time of its report, though it was too early to say whether the improvement would last. Generation companies also say they are owed large sums, which discourages investment. Until generation improves, expect load shedding to continue in many areas, and use the complaints process for the issues that are within your DisCo's control. ## Questions people are asking ### How do I report a power outage to my DisCo? File a written complaint at your DisCo's nearest Customer Complaints Unit and ask for an acknowledgement, as NERC advises. ### How long does a DisCo have to resolve a complaint? NERC says up to 15 working days, depending on the complexity of the complaint. ### What if my DisCo does not resolve my complaint? Escalate to the NERC Consumer Forum Office in your area, then to NERC head office if you disagree with the Forum's decision. ### Why is there load shedding now? NISO says insufficient gas to thermal plants and low water levels at hydro stations cut generation, which reduced the electricity allocated to DisCos. ## Sources 1. [Complaints and redress procedure](https://nerc.gov.ng/faq/complaints-and-redress-procedure/), NERC 2. [Contact NERC](https://nerc.gov.ng/contact-nerc), NERC 3. [NERC Forum Offices](https://nerc.gov.ng/forum-offices/), NERC 4. [NISO explains Nigeria's power supply decline: gas shortage, low water levels](https://www.withinnigeria.com/2026/11/07/niso-explains-nigerias-power-supply-decline-gas-shortage-low-water-levels/), Within Nigeria 5. [DisCos apologise to Nigerians over power outages](https://www.channelstv.com/2026/11/09/discos-apologise-to-nigerians-over-power-outages/), Channels Television