April 06, (THEWILL) — The dismal power supply situation in the country is getting worse as shown in Umuahia, capital of Abia State, where citizens are groaning under the burden of increasing estimated electricity bills which, they claim, have become more expensive than house rents.
Quite recently protests rocked parts of the state, including Umuahia and Aba, as the citizens demanded a better deal from the government and electricity distributing companies. Unfortunately there seems to be no respite in sight.
Many citizens have no access to prepaid meters because they are so expensive that even the landlords cannot afford them. A single phase meter costs N130, 000, while a three-phase meter costs almost two times that sum. So it is virtually out of the reach of the average citizen for whom it is preferable.
Investigation shows that due to the increase in billing, citizens of Umuahia pay more for electricity in addition to enduring a worsening power supply. Those without prepaid meters are worst-hit, as they remain subject to estimated billing under the Band Tariff System.
The development is seriously affecting businesses, particularly small enterprises, and households. Low income earners are also affected. Many have complained bitterly, claiming that they can hardly fulfill other needs nor meet other responsibilities after paying high electricity bills.
Indeed, the development has put many businesses in Umuahia under pressure, such that their owners, who mostly pay for electricity under estimated billing, consider shutting down till the situation improves.
The intriguing part of it, according to reports, is that many customers don’t consume up to 30 percent of the electricity they are billed for. Power outages are persistent, often lasting three or four days. But when power is restored, it hardly exceeds six hours daily.
Frustrated, the residents accused the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, of exploitation and making them to “pay for darkness”. But the latter, through its spokesperson, Mr Emeka Eze, said the hike in bills reflected the Band A tariff, which required customers to pay the full cost of electricity following the removal of subsidies by the Federal Government.
Eze said what the residents were seeing was not an increase but the actual approved rate for Band A. According to him, Band A customers are expected to receive at least 20 hours of electricity daily, but this has been affected by reduced power generation due to constraints in gas supply.
Ironically, nine local government areas in Abia State, including Aba, currently enjoy steady electricity supply under Geometry Power Company, an independent power plant, while the rest of the state literally continue to grope in darkness awaiting a full takeover of power distribution in the state. The situation is a painful reminder of the start reality facing a majority of Nigerians.
President Bola Tinubu at the weekend approved a landmark N3.3 trillion payment plan to resolve long-standing financial obligations in Nigeria’s power sector, in a decisive move expected to restore stability, improve electricity supply, and stimulate economic growth across the country. We hope this is deliverable and not a political gimmick designed to woo the public during electioneering. It is high time the authorities tackle this power menace in the country and give Nigerians breathing spaces in their homes, businesses and other affairs.
