Joseph Bakare
Nigeria is stepping up meter installations to customers which has recorded a major success in Q1, of 2024.
According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) there was a significant increase in meter installations and revenue collection within the power sector during the first quarter of 2024.
The NERC in the report said that 123,604 meters were installed from January to March 2024, reflecting a 7.31 per cent rise from the 115,181 meters installed in the last quarter of 2023.
This increase in installations has contributed to a modest improvement in the net end-user metering rate across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), which rose from 44.39 per cent in Q4 2023 to 44.79 per cent in Q1 2024.
The report attributes the bulk of the new installations to the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework, which accounted for 114,477 meters, or 92.62 per cent of the total installations during this period.
The report further highlights the contributions from other frameworks: the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) added just 14 meters, while the Vendor Financed and DisCo Financed frameworks contributed 7,540 and 1,573 meters, respectively.
NERC’s report emphasises the importance of these installations in enhancing metering coverage and improving revenue collection in the electricity sector.
As more households and businesses are equipped with meters, the potential for accurate billing and reduced electricity losses increases, which is vital for the sector’s sustainability.
The increase in installations reflects ongoing efforts by the government and regulatory bodies to address long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector, particularly regarding meter accessibility and accuracy. By improving the metering rate, NERC aims to foster a more efficient and reliable power supply, ultimately benefiting consumers and boosting overall revenue in the industry.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with various energy challenges, the progress in meter installations marks a positive step toward enhancing the operational efficiency of the electricity sector. With the MAP framework leading the way, the hope is that these improvements will lay the foundation for further developments in the nation’s power supply infrastructure.
The NERC’s commitment to monitoring and reporting these metrics is crucial as the government seeks to attract more investments and improve the overall performance of Nigeria’s electricity supply chain.