ADVERTISEMENT
TechEconomy
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Accessories
      • Phones
      • Laptop
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Apps
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
  • Apply
  • TecheconomyTV
  • Techeconomy Events
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • TBS
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Accessories
      • Phones
      • Laptop
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Apps
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
  • Apply
  • TecheconomyTV
  • Techeconomy Events
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • TBS
No Result
View All Result
Tech | Business | Economy
No Result
View All Result
Podcast

Home » Estimated Billing Customers rise by 10%- NBS

Estimated Billing Customers rise by 10%- NBS

Adetunji Tobi by Adetunji Tobi
June 25, 2024
in News
0
Estimated Billing Customers rise by 10%- NBS

RelatedPosts

SIFAX Group

SIFAX Group Honoured with Distinguished Gender Inclusion Award  

June 2, 2025

Interswitch, PKB to Boost Lagos Smart Health Information Platform

May 31, 2025

The Federal Government’s plan to eliminate estimated billing by the end of 2024 is facing significant hurdles.

The latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the number of customers on estimated billing increased by 10% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2024.

This means that about 52% of total DisCos customers are on estimated billing this quarter, which is an increase from the 48% recorded in the previous quarter.

The recent rise in the number of customers on estimated billing across Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DisCos) highlights persistent issues in the Nigerian electricity sector, despite government efforts.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Electricity Report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the first quarter of 2024 shows a 10% quarter-on-quarter increase in estimated billing customers, as the metering gap widens.

The number of customers on estimated billing rose from 5.83 million in Q4 2023 to 6.43 million in Q1 2024, marking a notable 10% increase.

On a year-on-year basis, the rise in estimated billing customers is equally significant. From Q1 2023 to Q1 2024, the number of estimated billing customers increased by 8% from 5.96 million.

This increase occurs as the government continues to subsidize customers not on Band A, while Band A customers on estimated billing are still required to pay based on estimation.

It further highlights a persistent issue within the Nigerian electricity sector the inability to adequately meter all customers to bridge the metering gap despite various initiatives, leading to reliance on estimated billing.

For Instance, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), recorded the highest number of estimated billing customers, with 1.41 million in Q1 2024, up from 1.37 million in the previous quarter. Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) also saw a significant increase, reaching 765,662 customers from 709,104 in Q4 2023.

The reliance on estimated billing is a contentious issue, often leading to disputes between consumers and DISCOs. Many consumers feel the estimates are inflated and do not reflect their actual consumption, leading to calls for more accurate metering.

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) fined 11 electricity distribution companies 5 billion over non-compliance with mandatory capping of estimated billing of unmetered customers.

Despite efforts to improve metering, the report shows only a modest 5% quarter-on-quarter increase in metered customers, from 5.61 million in Q4 2023 to 5.91 million in Q1 2024.

This growth is overshadowed by the more rapid rise in estimated billing customers, which doubled the growth in metered customers.

However, year-on-year, the number of metered customers increased by 11%, from 5.31 million in Q1 2023. While this indicates progress, it is not sufficient to keep up with the overall increase in customer numbers and the rise in estimated billing customers.

DISCOs face several challenges in closing the metering gap, including financial constraints, logistical issues, and regulatory hurdles. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) are among the DISCOs making strides, with AEDC increasing its metered customers to 892,028 and BEDC to 672,179 in Q1 2024.

However, these efforts are not enough to keep pace with the overall increase in customer numbers.

The total number of customers served by DISCOs in Nigeria has shown a consistent increase. In Q1 2024, the total customer base grew to 12.33 million from 12.12 million in Q4 2023, a quarter-on-quarter rise of 2%. Year-on-year, this represents a 9% increase from 11.27 million in Q1 2023. This growth reflects the ongoing expansion of electricity access across the country.

Among the DISCOs, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) boasts the highest total number of customers, reaching 2.48 million in Q1 2024, up from 2.42 million in Q4 2023. This increase highlights IBEDC’s extensive customer base and the challenges it faces in balancing estimated and metered billing.

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) also has a substantial customer base, with 1.39 million customers in Q1 2024, up from 1.32 million in the previous quarter.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) follows closely with 1.46 million customers, reflecting its significant presence in the capital region.

However, with 52% (an increase from 48% recorded in the previous quarter) of these customers still on estimated billing in Q1 2024, the need for accelerated metering efforts is clear.

While campaigning for the presidency, Bola Tinubu released a manifesto outlining a plan to eliminate estimated billing and ensure that all Nigerian homes and businesses are equipped with prepaid meters.

However, under his administration, the number of estimated billing customers has seen the largest growth rate both quarterly and yearly, based on data from the NBS up to 2022.

In January 2024, the NERC mandated the eleven electricity distribution companies to invest a total of N275 billion in electricity meters between 2024 and 2027. Each DisCo was required to spend approximately N6.25 billion annually on 65,000 electricity meters.

Despite these government efforts, the metering gap remains a significant challenge, with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s power sector.

Accurate metering is essential for efficient billing, revenue collection, and overall customer satisfaction. Without it, DISCOs may struggle to recover costs and invest in much-needed infrastructure improvements.

The rise in estimated billing has exacerbated these challenges, leading to collection losses. Revenue collected by the DISCOs dropped by approximately 1.13%, falling from N294.95 billion in Q4 2023 to N291.62 billion in Q1 2024.

This decline highlights the financial strain on DISCOs, alongside the urgent need for comprehensive metering solutions to enhance operational efficiency and financial stability in Nigeria’s electricity sector.

While there has been progress in increasing the number of metered customers, the rate of growth is insufficient to counterbalance the rapid rise in estimated billing customers.

Addressing the metering gap requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including government support, investment in metering infrastructure, and improved regulatory frameworks.

 

 

Loading

Advertisements
MTN ADS

Author

  • Adetunji Tobi
    Adetunji Tobi

    Tobi Adetunji is a Business Reporter with Techeconomy. Contact: adetunji.tobi@techeconomy.ng

    View all posts
0Shares
Previous Post

EU Accuses Microsoft of Antitrust Violations Over Teams Bundling

Next Post

Financial Education: 8 Important Steps To Secure Your PalmPay Account

Adetunji Tobi

Adetunji Tobi

Tobi Adetunji is a Business Reporter with Techeconomy. Contact: adetunji.tobi@techeconomy.ng

Related Posts

SIFAX Group
News

SIFAX Group Honoured with Distinguished Gender Inclusion Award  

by Destiny Eseaga
June 2, 2025
0

SIFAX Group has been honoured with the Distinguished Gender Inclusion Award at the just-concluded 2025 Women in Maritime and Shipping...

Read more
Interswitch partners with PKB

Interswitch, PKB to Boost Lagos Smart Health Information Platform

May 31, 2025
Aminu Maida | NCC } Telecoms Tariff adjustment | USPF | e-Health Project

NCC Boosts Telemedicine in Nigeria, Commissions Ondo e-Health Project

May 30, 2025
UK Minister for Africa in Nigeria

PARTNERSHIP: UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins Visits Nigeria

May 30, 2025
Glo Digital Village | Huawei

Glo, Huawei partnership Bring FG’s Digital Village Project to Live

May 30, 2025
Essential cybersecurity measures for Nigerian SMBs

Essential cybersecurity measures for Nigerian SMBs

May 30, 2025
Next Post
PalmPay account, Anti-Fraud Awareness Week

Financial Education: 8 Important Steps To Secure Your PalmPay Account

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Techeconomy Podcast

Techeconomy Podcast
Techeconomy Podcast

Infowave is brought to you by TechEconomy. Every week we will bring new stories from startups and influencers who are shaping and changing the world we live in. We’ll also bring you reports on topics you should know.

Follow us @techeconomyng for more.

TECH TALK EPISODE 2
byTecheconomy

PRODUCTIVITY AND WORK-Life Balance

TECH TALK EPISODE 2
TECH TALK EPISODE 2
May 22, 2025
Techeconomy
CYBERSECURITY ESSENTIALS
April 24, 2025
Techeconomy
Digital Marketing Trends and strategies for 2025 and beyond
February 27, 2025
Techeconomy
Major Lesson for Techies in 2024 and Projections for 2025
December 6, 2024
Techeconomy
Major Lessons for Techies in an AI-Driven World | Techeconomy Business Series Highlights
November 26, 2024
Techeconomy
Maximizing Profitability Through Seasonal Sales: Strategies For Success
November 8, 2024
Techeconomy
Techeconomy Business Series
October 15, 2024
Techeconomy
PRIVACY IN THE ERA OF AI: GETTING YOUR BUSINESS READY
May 30, 2024
Techeconomy
Unravel the Secrets of Marketing Everywhere All At Once with Isaac Akanni from Infobip | Infowave Podcast Episode 1
February 9, 2024
Techeconomy
The Role of Ed-tech in Life Long Learning and Continuous Education
October 19, 2023
Techeconomy
Search Results placeholder

WHAT IS TRENDING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_MCUwS2woc&list=PL6bbK-xx1KbIgX-IzYdqISXq1pUsuA4dz

Follow Us

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy

© 2025 Techeconomy - Designed by Opimedia.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Accessories
      • Phones
      • Laptop
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Apps
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
  • Apply
  • TecheconomyTV
  • Techeconomy Events
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • TBS

© 2025 Techeconomy - Designed by Opimedia.

Translate »
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.