EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian electricity users on estimated billings increase by 40,000 to 6million in Q2, 2023

Oredola Adeola

The number of Nigerian electricity users on estimated billings has increased by 40,000 to 6 million users in the second quarter of 2023 (Q2,23), which is 0.72% up from 5.96 million in the first quarter of 2023 (Q1,23). Meanwhile, a total of 5.47 million users, which is 3.10% up, are currently on prepaid meters in Q2,23, increasing by 160,000 from 5.31 million recorded in the preceding quarter.

Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) made this known in its Nigeria Electricity Report Q2 2023: Energy Billed, Revenue Generated and Customers by all the eleven electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the period under review.

According to the data from NBS, the total numbers of electricity customer in Q2 2023 increased to 11.47 million up from 11.27 million in Q1 2023, showing an increase of 1.84%.

On a year-on-year basis, customer numbers in Q2 2023 rose by 6.17% from 10.81 million reported in Q2 2022.

EnergyDay’s analysis showed that on a year-on-year basis, estimated customers increased by 2.58% in Q2 2023 from 5.85 million in Q2 2022.

Further analysis showed released a report on the metering status of the various electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria. The report provides a breakdown of the number of metered and unmetered customers for each DisCo based on their network.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has a total of 1,353,671 users, out of which 807,548 are metered customers, while 546,123 are estimated to be unmetered.

Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has a total of 1,270,157 users, out of which 626,241 are metered customers, while 643,916 are estimated to be unmetered.

Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has a total of 678,387 users, out of which 418,559 are metered customers, while 259,828 are on estimated billings.

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has a total of 1,274,711 active users, out of which 580,419 are metered customers, while 694,292 are estimated to be unmetered.

Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has a total of 2,319,585 active users, out of which 980,296 are metered customers, while 1,339,289 are estimated to be unmetered.

Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC) recorded a total of 1,092,172 customers in its network, out of which 847,700 are metered customers, while 244,472 are on estimated billings.

Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) has a total of 716,691 customers in its network, out of which 234,604 are metered customers, while 482,087 are on estimated billings.

Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KDEDC) has a total of 828,245 customers, out of which 188,685 are metered customers, while 639,560 are estimated to be unmetered.

Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) has a total of 692,595 customers, out of which 207,798 are metered customers, while 484,797 are estimated to be unmetered.

Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PEDC) has a total of 727,392 customers, out of which 469,073 are metered customers, while 258,319 are estimated to be unmetered.

Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) has a total of 520,930 customers, out of which 113,497 are metered customers, while 407,433 are estimated to be unmetered.

Overall, the report shows that a significant number of electricity consumers in Nigeria are still on estimated billing, which has been a major source of complaints from customers.

The report highlights the need for DisCos to accelerate their metering programs to ensure that more customers are metered and billed accurately.

REVNUE COLLECTION

NBS also stated that revenue collected by the 11 DisCos during the period under review increased to N263.08 billion from N247.33 billion recorded in the Q1 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, revenue generated in the reference period rose by 39.63% from N188.41 billion recorded in Q2 2022.

During the period under review IKEJA (IEDC) recorded the highest revenue collection of N52,295,810,000, followed by ABUJA (AEDC) N43,079, 000,000, and by EKO (EKEDC) which recorded N43,226,000,000 and

Others are IBADAN (IBEDC) with N27,411,820,000, BENIN (BEDC) N20,680,050,000, PORT HARCOURT (PEDC) N18,857,690,000, KANO (KEDC) N13,138,900,000, JOS (JEDC) N10,242,750,000, KADUNA (KDEDC) N8,001,000,000, and YOLA (YEDC) N5,069,650,000.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLIED

Electricity supply was 5,909.83 (Gwh) in Q2 2023 from 5,851.87 (Gwh) in the previous quarter. However, on a year-on-year basis, electricity supply increased by 13.06% compared to 5,226.97 (Gwh) reported in Q2 2022.

Experts’ Opinion

Power sector engineers have called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to address the challenges facing the sector.