The electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) have reported a commendable collection of N267.6 billion from customers in the third quarter of this year.
The Quarterly Report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) indicates that this achievement came with a billing efficiency of 79%.
During the third quarter, the total energy received by all Discos stood at 7,184.45GWh. However, the billed energy to end-users witnessed a decrease of 2.44%, totaling 5,682.11GWh.
Despite this dip, the Discos showcased billing efficiency at 79%, a noteworthy performance in comparison to the previous quarter’s 81.53%.
According to the NERC report, the total revenue collected by the Discos in Q3 amounted to N267.61 billion out of the N349.55 billion billed to customers.
This translates to a collection efficiency of 76.56%, marking a 1.02% increase compared to the previous quarter.
The positive shift in collection efficiency is attributed to the implementation of various collection campaigns focusing on improved remittance by post-paid customers.
However, the report also points out that Aggregate Technical, Commercial, and Collection (ATC&C) loss was 39.45% during the quarter, indicating room for improvement.
In terms of market remittance, the Discos cumulatively remitted N158.43 billion out of the N208.70 billion payable, resulting in a remittance performance of 75.91% in Q3.
This reflects a decrease compared to the 95.21% recorded in the previous quarter.
The power sector in Nigeria has been grappling with challenges, including insufficient investment, sector illiquidity, non-cost reflective billing, and disruptions in gas-to-power supply.
Despite these hurdles, the Discos’ Q3 performance suggests efforts to navigate and improve their operational efficiency.
As the industry continues to evolve, stakeholders anticipate ongoing efforts to enhance billing efficiency, reduce losses, and promote a sustainable and reliable power supply for Nigeria.