Metering drive gains traction as NERC reports 171,107 installations in Q1 2023

A report released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shows that distribution companies installed 171,107 meters for consumers in the first quarter of 2023.

The figure represents an additional 6,495 meters installed, which is a 3.95 percent increase compared to the 164,612 meters installed in Q4, 2022.

According to the report, only 5.36 million of the registered 12.38 million subscribers have prepaid meters.

“As of 31st March 2023, there were 12,378,243 registered customers with 43.31 percent (5,360,434) of them metered,” the report reads.

“Over the course of 2023/Q1, 171,107 end-user customers were metered which increased the metering rate by 1.06 percent relative to the 42.25 percent recorded in 2022/Q4. Compared to 2022/Q4 (164,612), an additional 6,495 (+3.95%) meters were installed in 2023/Q1.”

The report shows that the meter asset provider (MAP) scheme covered 92.71 percent of the total 171,107 installations in the quarter under review.

The new data indicates that the scheme was responsible for the installation of 158,633 meters in Q1 2023, considered a significant number.

In 2018, the NERC introduced the MAP regulation to new investors in the power sector to fast-track the roll-out of meters through the engagement of third-party investors and end the estimated billing regime.

In 2019, the commission issued permits to asset providers to begin the rollout of new prepaid meters by May 1 and 26 contractors were approved under the program as of December 31, 2019.

According to NERC, Ikeja DisCo had the most installations, with 46,790 meters, accounting for 15.81 percent of the total number of customers metered under the MAP scheme.

However,  Yola DisCo did not record any installation under the MAP scheme in Q1, 2023.

In the same period, the number of customers successfully metered under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) scheme increased by 259.23 percent in Q1 2023, from 3,831 in Q4 2022, to 9,931.

All DisCos except Eko and Yola reported a decrease in customer metering under the NMMP in Q1, 2023 when compared to Q4, 2022.

The decrease in the number of customers metered under the NMMP scheme is primarily due to the completion of phase zero of the programme.