Despite collective drives by the Federal Government and power industry investors under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has reported that 53.85% of registered electricity customers are yet to be metered as of the end of third quarter (Q3) 2024.
The commission, in its latest 2024 report on the metering situation nationwide, overall the data on showed that 13,339,635 electricity customers were registered by the 12 electricity distribution (DisCos) out of which 7,182,909 are yet to be metered.
It clarified: “As of 30th September 2024, 6,156,726 (46.15%) out of the 13,339,635 registered electricity customers across the twelve (12) DisCos were metered.
“184,507 end-user customers metered across all the Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos with Ikeja, Ibadan, and Abuja DisCos recording the highest number of meter installations – they accounted for 25.54%, 21.48%, and 14.61%% respectively, of all total installations.
“Relative to 2024/Q2 when 51,826 customers were metered, there was a +256.01% increase in the toal number of customers metered in 2024/Q3.
“All DisCos except Aba (-43.90%, Kaduna (-24.69) and Jos (-9.31) recorded improvements in the number of meter installations. Eko, Ibadan, Ikeja, Benin DisCos recorded greatest improvements of (+2,120%), +575.60%, +417.40%, and +389.32% respectively in the number of meter installations compared to 2024/Q2”, the commission added.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had in October last year, disclosed that as part of its efforts to close the metering gap the Federal Government procured 1.8 million meters, with the first batch scheduled for distribution by December 2024 while the second batch will be delivered in the second quarter of this year.
The minister said: “The fund is already being raised to ensure that we procure a minimum of 3 million meters over the next five years, at an annual average of 2 million meters. Secondly, we have the support of our international development partner, the World Bank, to procure about 3.5 million meters within the next two to three years.
“Out of that, 1.8 million meters have already been procured. The contract has been signed and the payment has been made. We are expecting delivery of a part of this in the next two months, precisely December 2024.
“The balance will be delivered before the end of the second quarter of 2025. With this, we believe that the days of estimated billing are getting over gradually”, Adelabu added.
