In the first quarter of 2023, consumers in Nigeria paid N247.09 billion for electricity, which marked a 1.14 percent increase from the N243.65 billion paid in the fourth quarter of 2022, as reported by the Nigerian Electricity Commission (NERC). The total revenue collected by all electricity distribution companies in the country resulted in a collection efficiency of 68.75 percent.
The report revealed that the cumulative collection efficiency of distribution companies decreased from 73.33 percent in 2022/Q4 to 68.75 percent in 2023/Q1, reflecting a 4.58 pp decline. Additionally, the total energy billed saw an 8.15 percent increase compared to 2022/Q4, amounting to N332.28 billion.
The reduction in collection efficiency was primarily driven by Ibadan, Yola, Kaduna, and Abuja, with collection efficiencies decreasing by 15.50 pp, 10.20 pp, 8.49 pp, and 5.29 pp, respectively. Conversely, Jos DisCo recorded an improved collection efficiency of 4.48 pp.
The average hourly generation on the grid during the first quarter of 2023 was 4,334.41 MWh/h, indicating a 2.16 percent increase from 4,242.36 MWh/h in 2022/Q4. This increase was attributed to the improved available capacity of power plants such as Egbin, Afam VI, Geregu, and Sapele, which played a critical role in meeting demand in the Lagos region, responsible for 25–30 percent of national consumption.
The report also disclosed that in 2023/Q1, twenty-six generation stations injected energy into the national grid, comprising eighteen gas, four hydro, two steam, and two gas/steam-powered plants.
Despite the increase in average hourly generation, the Plant Load Factor across the generation plants decreased by 9.04 pp, from 95.43 percent in 2022/Q4 to 86.39 percent in 2023/Q1. This decrease was attributed to the marginally lower increase in average hourly generation compared to the increase in average available capacity during the same period.
In terms of grid performance, the averages of daily maximum and minimum system frequencies were 50.86 Hz and 49.08 Hz, respectively, in 2023/Q1, similar to the averages recorded in 2022/Q4. Both frequencies were outside the higher and lower bounds of the normal operational limit (50 Hz ± 0.25 Hz) approved in the grid code. The averages of daily maximum and minimum system voltages in 2023/Q1 were 352.96 kV and 299.97 kV, respectively, also outside the limits set in the grid code (330 kV, 16.5 kV).
In other news, NERC granted the embedded generation license to the Ekiti Independent Power Project (IPP) Limited in Ado Ekiti. Additionally, an independent electricity distribution license was granted to Olokiti Power Distribution Limited, also in Ado Ekiti. These developments aim to address the issue of epileptic power supply in the state and promote industrial development by providing reliable electricity to various facilities and private concerns.
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