NBS: Number of Electricity Customers in Nigeria Grew by 210,000 in Q1

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its latest data on the power sector, has stated that the number of electricity customers in Nigeria grew by 210,000 in the first quarter of 2023.

“Total customer numbers in Q1 2023 stood at 11.27 million from 11.06 million in Q4 2022, showing an increase of 1.89 per cent,” it said.

On a year-on-year basis, the NBS report said that customer numbers in Q1, 2023 rose by 5.99 per cent from 10.63 million reported in Q1 2022.

Similarly, it stated that metered customers stood at 5.31 million in Q1 2023, indicating a growth of 3.61 per cent from 5.13 million recorded in the preceding quarter.

“On a year-on-year basis, this grew by 10.86 per cent from the figure reported in Q1 2022 which was 4.79 million. In addition, estimated customers during the quarter were 5.96 million in Q1 2023, higher by 0.40 per cent from 5.93 million in Q4 2022.

Also, on a year-on-year basis, it stated that estimated customers increased by 1.99 per cent in Q1 2023 from 5.84 million in Q1 2022.

Revenue collected by the Distribution Companies (Discos) during the period, it stated ,  was N247.33 billion from N232.32 billion in Q4 2022.

On a year-on-year basis, revenue generated in the reference period rose by 20.81 per cent from N204.74 billion recorded in Q1 2022, NBS stressed.

It added that electricity supply was 5,852 (Gwh) in Q1 2023 from 5,611 (Gwh) in the previous quarter. However, on a year-on-year basis, electricity supply declined by 1.74 per cent compared to 5,956 (Gwh) reported in Q1 2022

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has stated that it issued 50 new power generation and metering permits in the last quarter of 2022, with a combined capacity of 56.50mw.

In its latest report, NERC pointed out that it also approved 13 mini-grid permits and 14 registration certificates for mini-grids with individual capacities below 1MW.

It also granted approval for the amendment/renewal of seven captive power generation permits with an aggregate capacity of 65.36MW.

NERC further said applications from seven meter installers, three meter manufacturers and two meter importers were also approved by the commission in Q4 2022.