*As NERC to close metering gap in next 3 years
OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — Fifty-seven percent of Nigerians are still on estimated billing, a report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC has said.
The report for first quarter 2019, said the metering gap for end-use customers continues to be a key challenge the electricity industry and as such, contributes to customer apathy towards payment for electricity.
The records of the commission indicate that, of the 8,840,801 registered electricity customers, only 3,793,895 (42.9%) have been metered as at the end of the first quarter of 2019.
Thus, 57% of customers are still on estimated billing which has contributed to customer apathy towards payment for electricity.
In comparison to the fourth quarter 2018, the number of registered customers increased by 110,261 (representing approximately 1.3% increase).
This increase in registered customer population is due to the on-going customer enumeration exercise by DisCos through which illegal consumers of electricity are brought onto the DisCos’ billing platform.
A review of the customer population data indicates that only Abuja, Benin and Port Harcourt DisCos had metered more than 50% of their registered customers as at the end of March 2019- Abuja (52%), Benin (57%), and Port Harcourt (68%).
Others DisCos such as Yola has metered 21%, Kano 24%, Kaduna 28%, Jos 35%, Ibadan 39%, Enugu 44%, Ikeja 46%, and Eko 48%.
The Commission said it would continue to monitor the conclusion of the MAP procurement process by the DisCos’ to ensure that successful MAPs commence the roll-out of meters in order to meet the target date of closing the metering gap in the NESI within three years.
