Estimated billing customers now six million

The total estimated customers stood at about 6 million in the third quarter of 2022, higher by 1.1 per cent from 5.85 million in the second quarter of 2021, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics’ latest data has indicated.

The report showed the estimated customers declined by 6.38 per cent year-on-year in Q3 2022 from 6.32 million in Q3 2021.

Although Nigeria has over 200 million population, the report put total customer numbers growth in Q3 2022 at 10.94 million from 10.81 million in Q2 2022, showing a rise of 1.20 per cent.

On a year-on-year basis, customer numbers in Q3 2022 declined by 1.19 per cent from Q3 2021 (11.07 million).

In addition, the total customer number in Q4 2022 stood at 11.06 million from 10.94 million in Q3 2022, indicating an increase of 1.1 per cent.

On a year-on-year basis, customer numbers in Q4 2022 rose by 5.2 per cent from Q4 2021 (10.51 million).

In Q3 2022, metered customers stood at 5.02 million from 4.96 million in Q2 2022, indicating a 1.3 per cent increase. However, on a year-on-year basis, it grew by 5.7 per cent from 4.75 million in Q3 2021.

Metered customers during the period stood at 5.13 million from 5.02 million in Q3 2022, indicating a 2 per cent growth rate. Nevertheless, on a year-on-year basis, this grew by 7 per cent from 4.77 million in Q3 2021.

Meanwhile, estimated billing is one of the major challenges bedevilling the power sector, as the NBS stated that the number of customers on estimation in Q4 2022 stood at 5.93 million, higher by 0.34 per cent from the 5.91 million reported in Q3 2022.

On a year-on-year basis, it rose by 3 per cent in Q4 2022 from the figure reported in Q4 2021.

In terms of revenue, N232b was generated by the Discos in Q4 2022 compared to N203b in Q3 2022. On a year-on-year basis, revenue collected rose by 16 per cent from N200b in Q4 2021.

The report further said electricity supply in Q4 2022 stood at 5,611 (Gwh) from 5,024 (Gwh) in Q3 2022, showing a rise of 12 per cent. On a year-on-year basis, electricity supply declined by 3 per cent compared to Q4 2021.