Many consumers have requested electricity distribution companies also known as DisCos to disconnect them from power supply, lamenting that they can no longer pay their energy bills.

Most of the consumers opting for disconnection fall under the Band A and B categories and are postpaid customers.

Saturday PUNCH findings revealed that the consumers receive estimated billing ranging from N40,000 to N400,000, depending on the electricity gadgets and size of the house or shop.

This was as some prepaid consumers on Band A also found it difficult to pay for the electricity tariff, forcing them to stay in darkness for days.

The electricity tariff for Band A is N209.50 per kilowatt-hour, while that of Band B is N64.07 per kWh.

Band A’s minimum electricity supply hours are 20 hours per day, while Band B consumers enjoy 16 hours daily.

Nigerians have been lamenting the increase in electricity tariffs coupled with the high cost of fuel.

Many unmetered consumers continue to decry high estimated billing from their DisCos, resulting in their resolve to stay without power rather than accumulate debt for ‘unused energy’.

Saturday PUNCH noted that the number of consumers asking DisCos to disconnect their electricity due to estimated billing had been increasing amid economic hardship.

A staff member of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity on Thursday, said the company disconnected between 15 and 20 houses every month based on requests from owners.

According to him, the affected consumers receive estimated bills of between N180,000 and N300,000 every month, regardless of the structure.

He said, “It is a common request from people, especially those on Band A who find it difficult to pay for electricity. Postpaid customers on Band A, who are frustrated with estimated bills of N80,000, N100,000, N200,000, N350,000, and above, have been requesting disconnection.

“On average, we disconnect 15 to 20 houses on request every month, and we suspend their accounts pending installation of prepaid meters. We recently disconnected some buildings at Ijedodo and areas in Okota based on requests. No Band A area is exempted from such disconnection requests.”

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a petty trader on Abija Street, Alekuwodo area of Osogbo, Osun State, Bisola Adeoye, said she opted for disconnection after she couldn’t bear the estimated electricity bill.


Adeoye stated that she usually received arbitrary estimated billing of between N200,000 and N300,000 for a single shop.


She said, “I have just one shop; the least I received as a bill in a month was N200,000. IBEDC officials initially asked me to pay N15,000 every month. Later, I was asked to pay N25,000 on estimated billing every month. The bill was choking and unbearable. I asked them to disconnect the electricity because I would run into debt.”

Another consumer in Orinsumibare area of Owode-Ede, Osun State, identified as Baba Solia, described the estimated billing as crazy and “difficult to pay”.

He lamented being charged N120,000 monthly for a house with only a fridge, television, and radio.

“I told them to disconnect my electricity three weeks ago because I cannot continue paying for what I didn’t use. I have other responsibilities. My priority is feeding my family. The economy is hard,” he lamented.

Also, a resident of Iya Nurse Street, Asanmajana, Moniya area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Dupe Ishola, accused the IBEDC of being insensitive to the peoples’ plight by giving estimated bills when people are already facing hardship.

According to Ishola, she asked the IBEDC to disconnect her electricity because the estimated billing had accumulated to over N1.2m, despite paying N10,000 every month for a shop with just a freezer and fan.

Commenting on the matter, the Chairman of Seidu II community, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Akeem Akejo, lamented the high electricity tariff, pleading with DisCos to consider the common people.

“The electricity tariff is too high; everyone is lamenting. Prepaid owners complain bitterly. People on direct lines are at the receiving end. DisCos should provide prepaid meters and reduce tariffs,” he said.

A resident of Oyekan Street, Ogijo, Ogun State, Olufemi Adeyemi, said his community had engaged a lawyer to address estimated billing by DisCos.

“I’m on a direct line; my electricity was disconnected. The Community Development Committee handles the matter, and a lawyer engages the distribution company. We can’t afford electricity.”

However, the spokesperson for DisCos, Sunday Oduntan, sympathised with affected consumers while stating that electricity distribution companies needed payment for services rendered.

“I sympathise with Nigerians contemplating disconnection because I know the cost of living is high. Electricity is a product like others. You pay when needed.

“DisCos provide services; they need payment. Whoever sells electricity must recover costs to sell again tomorrow,” Oduntan stated.

According to Oduntan, the absence of data makes it impossible for the government to help needy electricity consumers.

“We lack credible data in Nigeria. If available, the government can support consumers who need assistance,” he stated.

Source: https://punchng.com/Electricity-consumers-demand-disconnection-over-rising-tariffs

Not surprised.....the fact is after years of thinking power was cheap, we are waking up to the cold reality.

I'll leave this post i made earlier

nairalanda1:
Something similar is happening in Ghana. People disconnect from the mains at night, and reconnect in the day, because power is very costly, even more so than Nigeria.

Yes, power in reality is costly. I am sure many will call me agbado, but it costs a lot of money to make improvements to the power sector for it to function. We gonna need a bigger boat to deal with the shark of power supply issues.

Yes, we buy our poles and transformers, because the amount paid in total nationwide is not enough for discos and gencos to pay for those things themselves.

For comparison, I went to a private primary school where my parents paid fees that were five times that of the government school (which was even within shouting distance of our house...meanwhile the private school was miles away, so on top of fees, we had to travel a distance daily to go to school). We got exercise books, pencils, textbooks and desks and if our exercise book finished, we went to the teacher who made a request to the school store for a new exercise book. Same with biros and pencils. That was the benefit of paying fees that were five times that of the government school

Government school? They gave only desks, but in return, you the student bought everything else.


See the issue.

The problem is, if you want good power supply, either we pay for it at the very expensive market supply, and get five star service, or we continue to insist on paying for it cheap or not at all, and we get shitty service.

Right now, only 20% of consumers pay market price for power. Most consumers pay below market price, or in many instances do not pay at all.

Below images are from solving the liquidity crunch in the power sector, a PwC report from 2019.

The fact is, if we want power, we got to pay for it at high prices. But most of us don't want to because we won't be able to afford the prices needed to kick start the sector.

Their requests would be granted soon.

Great news in some ways. Before we were subsidising consumption and idleness.
People could afford to buy two litres to watch BBNAIJA and Telemundo series. Now it is strictly on a need basis. This will allow the use of power for more of production.

That is the best thing to do.

Most People are just managing to survive in this country and trying to impress their village People by living in a luxury estate, paying huge amount of money to rent one Big house.

Electricity bill is currently higher than house rent...imagine you are paying N500k per annum in a self contain apartment and your electricity purchase is N50k every month...that's N600k in a year.

Theives in power.

What is the meaning of Bands?

The tinubulation induced shege promax has hit them harder than anticipated. Elections has consequences

There is an alternative which is solar power. My best guess is those requesting disconnection intends to go the solar route because fuel is expensive as well.

It will only cost them inverter, battery and solar panel fee. Sun is free and it will remain free and inexhaustible.

If Nigeria was a functional country, we would have at least one NUCLEAR POWER plant.

How?

Sign a deal with Russian so they help us build it for free, Grant them license to run the operation of the power plant commercially till they recoup their money plus profit and hand over the power plant to Federal Government.

Ghana is thinking in that direction now. While us giant of Africa by GDP can't think in that direction.

Imagine charging an average struggling Nigerian 200-300k as electricity bill every month.

Tinubu has no conscience.

Don’t they have prepaid meters

5 months now i stopped using electricity i even tried to save up to buy inverter, I kept spending d money.

Thanks tinubu thank u well well

CodeTemplarr:
Great news in some ways. Before we were subsidising consumption and idleness.
People could afford to buy two litres to watch BBNAIJA and Telemundo series. Now it is strictly on a need basis. This will allow the use of power for more of production.

Did you think before you made this comment? Be honest.

The minister of power needs to resign, he is incompetent.

Meanwhile,

You are invited to our midnight Telegram Prayer group where prayers are made every midnight via Telegram live chat.

Time: 12 am prompt.
Duration: 1 hour.

Testimonies and miracles are already happening. Why not join and see them for yourself.

To participate, chat me up on 08083375001 to be immediately added to the group.

God bless you as you join.

nairalanda1:
Not surprised.....the fact is after years of thinking power was cheap, we are waking up to the cold reality.

I'll leave this post i made earlier




The fact is, if we want power, we got to pay for it at high prices. But most of us don't want to because we won't be able to afford the prices needed to kick start the sector.

that's not the fact, the fact is show me where in the world that users of electricity users are classified, also note that this same class A and B do not get regular power as expected, its only apologies upon apologies that the discos give ......

nairalanda1:
Not surprised.....the fact is after years of thinking power was cheap, we are waking up to the cold reality.

I'll leave this post i made earlier




The fact is, if we want power, we got to pay for it at high prices. But most of us don't want to because we won't be able to afford the prices needed to kick start the sector.

Estimated bill is a legal scam perpetrated by electricity providers. NERC failed promises had been a waste of time. They re just like cinematic interplay between dangote and NNPLc.

What is fair is installation of prepaid meter for such customers or for all customers.

Just a guide to 2027 investment with your PVC for stomach or HDI,thank God for a listening leader

nairalanda1:
Not surprised.....the fact is after years of thinking power was cheap, we are waking up to the cold reality.

I'll leave this post i made earlier




The fact is, if we want power, we got to pay for it at high prices. But most of us don't want to because we won't be able to afford the prices needed to kick start the sector.

Boss, just advise them Discos to meter everyone. That should solve 70% of all the problems.

I once did that till I was metered. Then it was 22k a month, my family members were kicking but I no send anybody. I no come this life to impress anybody.

A305:
There is an alternative which is solar power. My best guess is those requesting disconnection intends to go the solar route because fuel is expensive as well.

It will only cost them inverter, battery and solar panel fee. Sun is free and it will remain free and inexhaustible.

If Nigeria was a functional country, we would have atleast have one NUCLEAR POWER plant. Ghana is thinking in that direction now. While us giant of Africa by GDP can't think in that direction.

Solar is not a complete alternative but a complement

Eventually, all consumers on estimated billing method will disconnect themselves while those of us who are using prepaid meters on band A have regulated our electricity use in such a way that it can't affect our pockets. The band A customers who are using electricity to satisfaction are those who bypass their meters or tampered with it.
Soon, both GENCO and DISCO will be facing dwindling income simply because people are not using enough electricity.
Why would B16H be paying N67 per unit while A20H be paying N209 per unit? A whopping difference of N140 because of imaginary 4 hours difference!

nairalanda1:
Not surprised.....the fact is after years of thinking power was cheap, we are waking up to the cold reality.

I'll leave this post i made earlier




The fact is, if we want power, we got to pay for it at high prices. But most of us don't want to because we won't be able to afford the prices needed to kick start the sector.

These are post paid consumers that are being ripped off with estimated billing.

Staying away from estimated bill is the beginning of wealth creation for Nigerians.
The estimated bill is designed to choke one into big time debt especially in areas with poor power supply.

nairalanda1:
Not surprised.....the fact is after years of thinking power was cheap, we are waking up to the cold reality.

I'll leave this post i made earlier


The fact is, if we want power, we got to pay for it at high prices. But most of us don't want to because we won't be able to afford the prices needed to kick start the sector.

Mumu. I hope you can tell your mother to be paying 200k for a single shop every month.

Darkness

Nazgul:
Imagine charging an average struggling Nigerian 200-300k as electricity bill every month.

Tinubu has no conscience.

while the minimum wage is 70k , so it will get to point your salary per month cannot pay your electricity bill per month and the prepaid meter is not available or you will have to bribe officials to get it at outrageous price

Every should invest in solar and wind generation

This giant of Africa population is filled with poor people, yet they brag that they are the richest. Electricity is not cheap, let us stop complaining and get down to work with our brains and abilities.

Doesn't speak I think civilization is a curse to our country I honestly believe so. Because how we be paying high prices for electricity whey some part of Nigeria go dey enjoy electricity without laying doesn't make sense at all

Finally confirmed you are brain dead

Racoon:
The tinubulation induced shege promax has hit them harder than anticipated. Elections has consequences

MrAmbrose:
That is the best thing to do.

Most People are just managing to survive in this country and trying to impress their village People by living in a luxury estate, paying huge amount of money to rent one Big house.

You still haven't understood the direction this is going. Soon, DISCO will begin refusing to buy enough electricity from GENCO because they're losing some customers while the rest are not using much electricity per day (like my household ) and GENCO too will start complaining. And before you know it, power sector will have huge problem of inability to sell their generated electricity simply because there are not enough consumers anymore