Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies, also known as DisCos, have made significant strides in metering customers, with 187,765 meters installed in September and October this year. According to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), this has led to an increase in the national metering rate from 55.37% to 56.07%. The number of active electricity customers also rose slightly from 12.03 million to 12.07 million during the same period.
A breakdown of the data shows that 80,943 customers were metered in September, while 106,822 new meters were provided in October. The total number of metered customers increased from 6.66 million to 6.76 million. Some distribution companies, such as Aba Power, have made notable improvements, with their metering rate rising from 69.49% in September to 78.20% in October.
Eko and Ikeja DisCos have maintained their positions as top performers, with metering rates above 84%. Abuja Disco has also recorded consistent meter additions, with a 74.82% metering rate. The report highlights that while some distribution companies, including Enugu, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola, have metering rates below 50%, they continue to meter new customers.
The accelerated rollout of meters is still required to close the metering gap, according to NERC. The commission’s data indicates that Abuja, Aba, Ikeja, and Ibadan DisCos have contributed significantly to the total metering rate, with 19,118, 18,906, 17,046, and 15,739 meters installed, respectively, as of October this year.
The increase in metering rates is a positive development for Nigeria’s electricity sector, which has faced challenges in providing adequate and reliable power supply to its citizens. The Nigerian government has been working to address these challenges, including the implementation of policies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the sector. The latest data from NERC suggests that the efforts of the DisCos and the regulatory commission are yielding results, with more customers being metered and the national metering rate increasing. However, the need for accelerated rollout of meters remains, and it is likely that the government and regulatory authorities will continue to monitor the situation and implement measures to address the metering gap.
