Residents of Umuahia, Abia State capital, are groaning under what they describe as “crazy” electricity bills, with many lamenting that power costs now rival, and in some cases exceed, house rents. Despite a series of protests by affected residents, respite seems not to be in sight yet. The growing outrage is driven by a combination of factors—high tariffs, estimated billing, and worsening power supply—a situation many say is pushing households and small businesses to the brink.

Bills skyrocket amid sharp drop in supply
Sunday Vanguard investigations show that residents who paid between N6,000 and N14,000 as recently as June 2025 now receive monthly bills ranging from N50,000 to N70,000. Ironically, the sharp increase in billing has coincided with a noticeable drop in electricity supply. In Umuahia, annual rent for a three-bedroom apartment averages between ₦350,000 and ₦550,000. Broken down monthly, many residents now pay more for electricity than for shelter—a trend widely described as unsustainable. Those without prepaid meters are the hardest hit, as they remain subject to estimated billing under the Band tariff system.

How do we survive? — Residents lament
Low-income earners, especially civil servants, complain bitterly over the development, saying they can hardly meet other basic responsibilities after paying electricity bills. Mr Harrison Ogbonnaya, a civil servant, said his electricity bills now consume most of his income. “In January, I was billed N68,689.81; February was N56,303.12; March N55,761.61. I paid N40,000 but was still disconnected and asked to pay a N5,000 reconnection fee plus N10,000 balance.

How is anyone supposed to survive?” he lamented. Another resident, who identified himself as Obinna, said, “This is outrageous. Electricity should not cost more than shelter.” For Ndubuisi Odimba, an ICT professional, the crisis has escalated beyond discomfort. “Some businesses have already shut down. In parts of Abia today, electricity bills are higher than house rent. That is unacceptable,” he said, urging the government to explore alternatives such as solar energy.

Businesses under pressure
Small business owners say the situation is equally dire. Mr Chimdi Ejirika, who runs a business centre on Niger Road, said he pays between N65,000 and N80,000 monthly on estimated billing. “I don’t consume up to 30 per cent of what I’m billed. This is exploitation,” he said. A metal fabricator, Okehie Kingsley Obioma, said he pays as much as ₦90,000 monthly despite erratic supply. “We are paying heavily for electricity we barely get. It is discouraging and unfair,” he said.

‘We are paying for darkness’
Many residents say outages now last two to three days, and when power is restored, it rarely exceeds six hours daily. “We are paying for darkness,” some residents said, accusing the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) of exploitation. Although Governor Alex Otti recently ruled out electricity subsidies, he maintained that the long-term goal is to ensure residents receive stable and reliable power supply, noting that paying for steady electricity is preferable to “paying for darkness.” As residents await the full takeover of power distribution in the remaining eight Local Government Areas in the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) of exploitation. Although Governor Alex Otti recently ruled out electricity subsidies, he maintained that the long-term goal is to ensure residents receive stable and reliable power supply, noting that paying for steady electricity is preferable to “paying for darkness.” As residents await the full takeover of power distribution in the remaining eight Local Government Areas in the Umuahia ring-fenced area, nine LGAs in Aba are currently under an independent power plant—Geometry Power Company.

DisCo explains, says electricity doesn’t come cheap
Responding to the concerns, EEDC spokesman Emeka Eze said the spike in bills reflects the Band A tariff, which requires customers to pay the full cost of electricity following subsidy removal. “Electricity is not cheap. What customers are seeing is not an increase but the actual approved rate,” he said. He explained that Band A customers are expected to receive at least 20 hours of electricity daily, though this has been affected by reduced power generation due to gas supply constraints. “Gas accounts for over 75 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity generation. Current shortages have significantly reduced supply nationwide,” he added. He also urged customers to report faults promptly.

Metering challenge persists
Findings show that prepaid meters remain out of reach for many residents, costing about N130,000 for single-phase and N230,000 for three-phase units. Many tenants say landlords are unwilling to shoulder the cost, leaving them trapped in estimated billing.

Abia yet to take over power assets — ASERA
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA), Emeka Onyebule, said the state government had not completed the takeover of electricity distribution in Umuahia. “The transaction is still in process. Payment has not been made, and the company remains under EEDC through its subsidiary, New Era,” he said.

‘Band-A tariff is nationwide’
Onyebule clarified that the Band A tariff is a national policy, not peculiar to Abia. “Customers on Band A pay about N209 per kilowatt hour, provided they receive a minimum of 20 hours daily supply,” he said, adding that customers are entitled to compensation if this threshold is not met.

‘Why supply dropped’
According to him, Umuahia’s power challenges stem from national grid constraints. “Supply dropped from about 35 megawatts before November to around 13 megawatts recently. The problem is from the source,” he explained, noting that Aba enjoys better supply due to its independent power infrastructure.

‘Why bills remain high’
He explained that electricity tariffs also cover infrastructure costs, not just energy consumption. “Poles, wires and transformers remain in place regardless of supply. These are long-term investments captured in the tariff,” he said.

‘Metering is the solution’
ASERA’s Executive Director, Legal & Regulatory, Iguwo Ukwu, insisted that metering is key to ending billing disputes. “If everyone is metered, complaints will reduce significantly,” he said, noting that free meters are limited due to a national shortfall.

‘Takeover timeline uncertain’
Onyebule said full takeover by the Abia State Government depends on the completion of due diligence. He also urged residents to document daily supply hours to support compensation claims.

Residents demand urgent relief
Despite official explanations, residents insist that what matters is tangible relief. For many households and businesses in Umuahia, electricity, once a basic utility, has become a crushing financial burden threatening livelihoods and survival—now seen as a commodity for the bourgeoisie. The situation remains one of the indelible scars of what critics describe as ill-advised policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government, which has faced backlash for removing subsidies without adequate consultation or cushioning measures.