• Eneo said the Cameroonian state and its agencies paid only CFA59 billion for electricity consumption in 2024, well below amounts due.

• Major state-owned consumers Alucam and Camwater paid a combined CFA6 billion during the year.

• The government plans to automate public-sector electricity bill payments starting in 2026.

Cameroon’s power utility highlighted payment shortfalls by the state in 2024, according to a report. The deficits reached several million U.S. dollars.

Eneo’s annual report showed a further deterioration in payments by the state and its agencies for electricity consumption in 2024. The company said the year was “marked by a less sustained payment effort” from public administrations.

According to the report, the central government and its agencies paid only CFA59 billion, or about $104.8 million, over the full year. Eneo said this amount remained insufficient “to even partially cover the sums owed to Eneo for the period.” Weak payments by large state-owned companies compounded the deficit, as Alucam and Camwater paid a combined total of only CFA6 billion despite ranking among the grid’s largest consumers.

The report also said Eneo “received almost nothing” for public lighting during the year and collected no tariff compensation. These two items normally represent essential revenue streams for the utility.

This situation reflects a long-running trend. Public-sector electricity payment delays have strained sector finances for several years. In an interview with Business in Cameroon in April 2024, Eneo Chief Executive Officer Amine Homman Ludiye said the company issues about CFA7 billion in monthly bills to public entities. “But since the start of this year—2024—our collections have been limited to CFA1.5 billion in January and CFA1.8 billion in February,” he said.

From 2026, the state plans to automate electricity bill collection

From 2026, the government plans to tighten enforcement of unpaid electricity bills by public entities, which weaken Eneo’s cash flow and the wider power sector. For several years, the public treasury has stepped in to settle growing arrears on behalf of defaulting administrations. According to the National Energy Compact, the government plans to “put in place a mechanism to guarantee regular and full payment of public entities’ electricity bills.”

The document outlined several measures to compel monthly payments. “For public institutions: include electricity bills for month N-1 in the salary payment file for month N; account for electricity arrears in their budgets; deduct subsidies at source from beneficiary entities to offset persistent arrears. For public enterprises: deduct electricity debts at source for companies receiving advance payments,” the Energy Compact said.

If authorities implement these measures in 2026, they could reshape financial flows in the power sector. By ensuring regular and automatic payment of public electricity consumption, the state would significantly reduce the burden of arrears on Eneo’s cash position.

Amina Malloum (Business in Cameroon)