Electricity Now Costlier Than House Rent — Abia Residents Groan Over Crazy Bills

Residents of Umuahia, Abia State capital, are expressing deep frustration over electricity bills that now rival or exceed their house rents.

Many households that paid between ₦6,000 and ₦14,000 monthly as recently as June 2025 now receive bills ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦70,000. The jump has coincided with poorer power supply, leaving families and small businesses struggling to cope.

Civil servants and low-income earners say the situation is unbearable. Mr Harrison Ogbonnaya, a civil servant, told NaijaChoice News his January bill hit ₦68,689.81, followed by ₦56,303.12 in February and ₦55,761.61 in March. He paid ₦40,000 but was still disconnected and asked to settle a ₦5,000 reconnection fee plus outstanding balance.

Another resident, who gave his name as Obinna, described the charges as outrageous. “Electricity should not cost more than shelter,” he said. Ndubuisi Odimba, an ICT professional, warned that some businesses have already closed shop. “In parts of Abia today, electricity bills are higher than house rent. That is unacceptable,” he added.

Small business owners are equally hard hit. Mr Chimdi Ejirika, who runs a business centre on Niger Road, pays between ₦65,000 and ₦80,000 monthly on estimated billing. “I don’t consume up to 30 per cent of what I’m billed. This is exploitation,” he lamented. Metal fabricator Okehie Kingsley Obioma said he shells out as much as ₦90,000 despite erratic supply. “We are paying heavily for electricity we barely get. It is discouraging and unfair,” he said.

Outages now stretch for two to three days at a stretch, with restored power rarely lasting beyond six hours daily. Residents accuse the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) of charging them for darkness. Annual rent for a three-bedroom apartment in Umuahia averages ₦350,000 to ₦550,000, meaning many now spend more on light than on housing.

Governor Alex Otti has ruled out electricity subsidies but insists the long-term plan is stable and reliable supply. He says paying for steady power is better than paying for darkness. NaijaChoice News understands the state is still processing the full takeover of power distribution in the remaining eight local government areas within the Umuahia ring-fenced zone. Nine LGAs in Aba already enjoy better supply under the independent Geometry Power Company.

EEDC spokesman Emeka Eze said the higher bills reflect the Band A tariff after federal subsidy removal. “Electricity is not cheap. What customers are seeing is not an increase but the actual approved rate,” he explained. Band A customers are supposed to get at least 20 hours of supply daily, though gas shortages affecting over 75 per cent of national generation have cut output nationwide.

The Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA) confirmed the Band A rate of about ₦209 per kilowatt-hour is a national policy. Chairman Emeka Onyebule said supply to Umuahia dropped from around 35 megawatts before November to about 13 megawatts recently because of national grid constraints. He noted Aba fares better thanks to its independent infrastructure.

Onyebule explained that tariffs also cover infrastructure like poles, wires and transformers, which remain fixed costs regardless of daily supply. ASERA’s Executive Director, Legal and Regulatory, Iguwo Ukwu, stressed that metering remains the lasting solution. Prepaid meters cost about ₦130,000 for single-phase and ₦230,000 for three-phase units, yet many landlords refuse to bear the expense.

ASERA has taken full regulatory oversight from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission since December 2025. Onyebule urged residents to keep daily records of supply hours to support compensation claims when the 20-hour threshold is not met. He said the state government’s takeover of Umuahia assets depends on completion of due diligence and payment.

Despite official explanations, residents are demanding urgent relief. For many in Umuahia, electricity has shifted from a basic utility to a crushing burden threatening livelihoods.