The number of electricity consumers rose by 410,000, from 11.71 million in the third quarter of 2023 to 12.12 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The National Bureau of Statistics stated in its electricity report for the fourth quarter of 2023, released on Monday, that the increase was 3.46 per cent.

The review focused on energy billed, revenue generated, and customers served by electricity distribution firms during the period.

It stated that on a year-on-year basis, the number of electricity customers increased by 9.59 per cent in Q4 2023 from 11.06 million reported in Q4 2022.

It said in Q4 2023, the number of metered customers stood at 5.61 million compared with the 5.68 million recorded in Q3 2023, indicating a 1.32 per cent decrease.

On a year-on-year basis, the figure grew by 9.38 per cent from the 5.13 million reported in Q4 2022, the NBS stated.

Similarly, estimated electricity customers stood at 5.83 million in Q4 2023, showing a decrease of 3.34 per cent over the 6.03 million recorded in Q3 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, estimated customers decreased by 1.73 per cent in Q4 2023 from the 5.93 million recorded in Q4 2022.

The NBS also mentioned that electricity distribution companies collected N294.95 billion in revenue in Q4 2023, compared to the N260.16 billion they collected in Q3 2023.

It added that on a year-on-year basis, revenue collected rose by 26.96 per cent over the N232.32 billion collected in the fourth quarter of 2022.

It stated that electricity supply was 6,432GWh in the fourth quarter of 2023, up from 5,732GWh recorded in the third quarter of the year.

However, the report said on a year-on-year basis, electricity supply increased by 14.64 per cent in Q4 2023 compared to the 5,611GWh reported in Q4 2022. 

(NAN)