Estimated Billing Users Rise To 7.1 Million As Electricity Supply Dips

The number of Nigerians using estimated billing has risen to 7.07 million in the first quarter of 2024 despite government efforts to increase the adoption of meters.

Electricity supply also fell from 5,769.52 Gigawatt hours (Gwh) in Q1 to 5,612.52 (Gwh) in Q2 2024 and 5.03 per cent compared to 5,909.83 (Gwh) reported in Q2 2023.

These were contained in the Nigeria Electricity Report released on Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The NBS said the rise in the number of estimated customers during the quarter at 7.07 million rose 10.04 per cent from 6.43 million in Q1 2024.

On yearly comparison, the estimated customers increased by 17.86 per cent in Q2 2024 from 6 million in Q2 2023.

The adoption of metering by customers only rose by 0.25 per cent in Q2 2024 to 5.92 million compared to 5.91 million customers of Q1 2024.

The Bureau gave insight that the number of metered customers which hit 5.92 million by the end of June 2024 represents an 8.18 per cent surge compared to the 5.47 million customers held in the Q2 of 2023.

Although the trends show a slow transition to prepaid billing, the total number of electricity customers during the period rose to 12.99 million in Q2 as against the 12.33 million customers in Q1 of the same year.

When compared to the Q2 of 2023, the number represents a rise of 13.24 per cent from 11.47 million.

The Distribution Companies (DisCos) collected N391.7bn in revenue in Q2 2024 as against the N291.62bn in Q1 2024.

“On a year-on-year basis, revenue generated in the reference period rose by 48.90 per cent from N263.08bn recorded in Q2 2023,” NBS said.