15 March 2015, Awka – Some electricity consumers in Awka, Anambra State, have decried the electricity tariff increase in spite of the unstable power supply in the state.
Some residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Awka said the high tariff was unaccepted to them.
Mr Emeka Ani, an artisan, said that power supply in his area was very poor, adding that most of the residents had resorted to generators for power supply.
He said the high cost of procuring petroleum products was adversely affecting their businesses.
“We do not have steady electricity and most of the time it comes in the night when most businesses must have closed for the day,” he said.
He said that in spite of the poor power supply, his electricity bills were still very high
Also commenting, Mrs Esther Nwosu, a hotelier, said she was unhappy receiving exorbitant bills from the distribution company even when power supply was poor.
“I have just three bulbs, a television set and a radio but they gave me over N5,000 every month since October 2014, “she said.
An official of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the high tariff on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).