DisCos Add 141,746 Meters as Rollout Slows in August

 

By Atlantic Reports

Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) metered an additional 141,746 customers in August, fewer than the 159,980 recorded in July, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has reported.

Despite the slower monthly rollout, the proportion of active customers with meters increased from 62.37 per cent in July to 63.10 per cent at the end of August.

NERC disclosed the figures in its August metering factsheet, published on its X account on Wednesday.

Across the distribution companies, 8,045,565 of 12,749,789 active customers were metered by the end of August. That left 4,704,224 customers, approximately 36.9 per cent of the total, without meters.

In July, the commission recorded 7,903,819 metered customers out of an active customer base of 12,671,795.

The figures show that the active customer base grew alongside meter installations, meaning distribution companies must serve new customers while closing the existing metering gap.

Eko Leads, Port Harcourt Records Largest Monthly Addition

Eko DisCo recorded the highest metering rate at 89.64 per cent, followed by Ikeja DisCo at 87.74 per cent and Abuja DisCo at 82.62 per cent.

Port Harcourt DisCo was the only other distribution company above 70 per cent. Its metering rate rose from 69.61 per cent in July to 71.00 per cent in August.

NERC said Port Harcourt also recorded the largest number of newly metered customers during the month. The supplied figures did not specify its total additions.

Millions Still Await Meters

August’s additions were 18,234 below July’s total, a decline of approximately 11.4 per cent. However, the national metering rate improved by 0.73 percentage points.

The figures therefore show continued progress alongside a substantial outstanding gap. For customers awaiting meters, the central issue remains how quickly installations will reach their homes and businesses.

The information provided did not explain the slower rollout or set out a timetable for metering the remaining customers.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.