The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Nigeria has reported that the number of electricity consumers in the country increased by 240,000 during the third quarter of 2023.

NBS on Electricity
NBS on Electricity

This rise is noted as a 2.08% increase from the figure of 11.47 million recorded in the second quarter of 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the growth is more pronounced, with a 7.09% increase from the 10.94 million recorded in the same period in 2022.

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In terms of metering, the report indicates that the number of metered customers reached 5.68 million in the third quarter of 2023, up from 5.47 million in the second quarter, reflecting a 3.77% increase. On a year-on-year basis, the growth is even more substantial, with a 13.07% increase from the 5.02 million recorded in the third quarter of 2022.

Estimated electricity customers, a category that includes those without meters, also saw a modest increase, reaching 6.03 million in the third quarter of 2023, representing a 0.53% growth from the six million recorded in the second quarter. On a year-on-year basis, estimated customers increased by 2.02% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the 5.91 million recorded in the same period in 2022.

Regarding revenue, the electricity distribution companies collected N260.16 billion in the third quarter of 2023. While this figure is slightly lower than the N263.08 billion collected in the second quarter, it represents a significant 28.40% increase on a year-on-year basis from the N202.62 billion recorded in the third quarter of 2022.

The report also sheds light on electricity supply, noting a decrease to 5,731.60 GWh in the third quarter of 2023 from 5,909.83 GWh recorded in the second quarter. However, on a year-on-year basis, electric supply increased by 14.09% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the 5,023.96 GWh reported in the same period in 2022.