The 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) operating in Nigeria received a total of 243,387 complaints in the first quarter of 2022, a document released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has revealed.
The document, which contained the 2022 first quarter activities of the discos, however, disclosed that 230,493 of those cases were resolved.
It also noted that the Discos remitted N135.69 billion to the government’s covers during the period under review.
The breakdown shows that Port Harcourt Disco had the highest number of complaints (46,152 representing 18.96 percent of total complaints), while Yola Disco had the least number of complaints (1,268 representing 0.53 percent).
Metering, service interruption, and billing accounted for more than 65 percent of the total complaints received.
“Out of the total 243,387 complaints received, 79,637 were on metering, 37,186 were related to service interruption, and 41,644 were billing-related. These sets of complaint categories also accounted for 58.83 percent of the complaints in the fourth quarter of 2021 which indicates that they continue to be a major concern of consumers,” the document stated.
Also, the document stated that the combined invoices from the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and the Market Operator (MO) to Discos in Q1 2022 stood at N205.63 billion.
It explained that the invoices were split into generation costs and transmission/administrative services respectively, adding that the total sum of N164.86 billion was for the generation cost, while N40.77 billion was for and transmission/administrative services.
According to the document, out of this amount, the DisCos collectively remitted a total sum of N135.69 billion with an outstanding balance of N69.94 billion, which corresponds to a remittance performance of 65.99 per cent during the quarter.
It said the 11 DisCos recorded Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses stood at 47.88 percent in the first quarter of 2022.
This, NERC explained, is composed of 22.62 percent technical and commercial losses and 32.64 percent in collection loss.
A further breakdown from NERC showed the ATC & C loss was largely driven by Benin (56.75%), Kano (53.89%), Kaduna (74.86%), Enugu (54.19%), and Jos (67.92%) DisCos.
On metering, a total of 85,510 meters were installed in 2022/Q1 as compared to the 79,978 meters installed in 2021/Q4.
“A total of 85,510 meters were installed in 2022/Q1 as compared to the 79,978 meters installed in 2021/Q4. At a macro level, quarterly meter installations have been reduced as a result of the winding down of the National Mass Metering Program (NMMP) phase 0’’, the document said.
The commission during the period under review also approved the issuance of eleven (11) new generation licenses, renewal of two (2) existing licenses and transfer of one (1) on-grid generation license.
“In 2022/Q1, the commission approved the issuance of eleven (11) new generation licenses, renewal of two (2) existing licenses and transfer of one (1) on-grid generation license. The Commission also approved forty-one (41) mini-grid registration/permits and granted an aggregate capacity of 186.06MW captive power generation permits to seven (7) new companies. Twelve (12) Metering Service Providers (MSP) consisting of eight (8) meter installers, three (3) meter manufacturers and one (1) meter importer, were also approved by the Commission in 2022/Q1’’, it said.
