Amid an electricity tariff hike, revenue of electricity distribution companies in Nigeria earned N887.86 billion in the first seven months of 2024.
This is according to the analysis of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC) data on Discos’ commercial performance for the seven months of 2024.
The data showed that out of N1.14 trillion electricity bill issued by Discos to customers, the companies recorded 79.7 percent collection efficiency which stood at N887.86bn in the period under review.
A breakdown of the bill collection by Discos from January to July 2024 includes: N95 billion, N97 billion, N100.44 billion, N142.92 billion, N191.65 billion, N150.86 billion and N162.14 billion which amounted to N887.86 billion.
Further analysis showed that during the corresponding period in 2023, the companies issued bills totaling N797.18 billion, while they managed to collect N604.15 billion.
This increase in revenue collection is not unconnected to the hike in electricity tariff in April from N66 per kilowatt-hour to N225.
Recall that amid the call for the electricity tariff hike reversal, it was reviewed downward to 206.68 per kilowatt, but was reviewed upward to N209 per kilowatt-hour thereafter.
Though the electricity tariff hike was introduced for customers getting at least 20 hours of power supply, Nigerians have lamented the burden occasioned by the tariff.
The energy cost pain has been exacerbated as Discos migrate more consumers to Band A feeders.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, however, insisted that Nigeria’s electricity tariff is among the cheapest within African countries.
