*Nigerian electricity consumers kick as the Distribution Companies recently announced increases in prices of prepayment meters, effective from November 5, describing the service providers’ move as ‘unfair’ amid the current economic hardship in the country

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Nigerian electricity consumers have kicked against the recent increases in prices of prepayment meters, describing the move as “unfair” amid the current economic hardship in the country.

绿帽献妻 learnt among several others, the power consumers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have kicked against the latest increases in prices of prepayment meters.

The electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) recently announced the increases in prices of prepayment meters, effective from November 5, 2024, along the various meter brands via their verified social media accounts.

On new prepayment meter prices

The DisCos announced the cost of a single-phase meter has increased from approximately N117,000 to as much as N149,800.

According to the service providers, this amount indicates an increase of about N32,800, while the three-phase meter rose from N206,345 to about N236,500, depending on the DisCos, and meter vendors in the network areas.

Under the new price hike regime, consumers with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) will pay between N123,130.53 and N147,812.5 for single-phase meters and N206,345.65 to N236,500 for three-phase meters.

Whereas the Ibadan DisCo said customers would pay between N130,998 and N142,548 for a single-phase meter and N226,556.25 to N232,008 for a three-phase meter.

For Kano Electricity Distribution, electricity consumers will pay between N127,925 and N129,999 for a single-phase meter and N223,793 to N235,425 for a three-phase meter.

Likewise, Kaduna DisCo said from N131,150 to N142,548.94 would be paid for single-phase meters and N220,375 to N232,008.04 for three-phase meters by its customers.

It equally noted that the current upward review of prepayment meter prices followed an earlier increase August this year.

The development has further raised concerns among electricity consumers about affordability and accessibility in regard to the current economic realities in the West African country.

Consumers kick against meter price hikes

Reacting to the latest price increments, some of the consumers, in separate interviews Monday, November 10, described the increases as unfair, in view if the harsh economic situation in Nigeria as of now.

Mrs. Alice Ogar, a resident of Lugbe in the FCT, said that when she wanted to buy a single-phase meter, she was told that the price had increased from N117,000 to N148,000, agency report said.

Ogar said that she was shocked because the last time she enquired about the price, it was N117,000, and that was the amount she budgeted for the purchase of the meter.

The power consumer lamented: “Everything keeps going up every day; it took me time to put this money together.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how to raise the additional amount to make it up.”

Mr. Edem Okon, another electricity consumer, recalled that his neighbour, October 2024, bought a three-phase meter for N206,345.65, but when he decided to buy, the price had risen to about N236,500.

Okon complained that the meter price increase at this time is not necessary, noting that several other consumers are going through hardship in Nigeria.

“Nothing is cheap, and this is affecting everyone,” said he.

Mrs. Itohan Efosa, another power consumer, who lives in Apo Resettlement, in Abuja, said increasing the prices of electricity meters at the time is discouraging, saying, the NERC decision has made it more difficult to purchase the power product.

According to Mrs. Efosa, she planned to buy a meter to stop the estimated billing she has been receiving and coping with over time.

However, the recent price hikes constituted a setback for her.

In his reaction to the development in the power ecosystem, Mr. Frank Oloton, a resident of Kubwa area of the FCT, also said that instead of increasing the prices of meters, the government should look for a way to give out the products free of charge to electricity consumers.

Oloton also said in the past, DisCos gave free meters to Nigerian power consumers.

He, however, said but now they are being paid for, besides being expensive.

The electricity consumer noted: “Why can鈥檛 the government find a way of giving these meters free to Nigerians to stop estimated billing?鈥�

In the same vein, Mr. Jude Okolo, also a resident of Kubwa, said that the increase in the prices of meters would encourage DisCos to continue with their estimated billing.

Okolo related how several people were finding it difficult to feed.

It is disheartening that the prices of electricity meters have kept increasing, report said.

鈥淕overnment should find a way of cushioning the effect of what Nigerians are going through during this period,鈥� he said.

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