Residents of Iwre-Ovie Ughelli in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State have called for urgent intervention over what they described as unusually high electricity bills issued by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.
The residents alleged that the charges were excessive, particularly given the irregular nature of electricity supply to the community.
According to the residents, some properties have reportedly received electricity bills exceeding N500,000, while individual flats were allegedly presented with bills as high as N193,000.
The development has reportedly generated concern among households, with community leaders calling for an investigation into the basis of the charges and the company’s billing system.
The President-General of Iwre-Ovie Ughelli, Comrade Joseph, described the situation as unacceptable, saying the alleged electricity charges had become a major financial burden for residents.
He claimed that the high bills had become difficult for some households to sustain, adding that some residents had reportedly considered relocating from the area because of the financial pressure.
Joseph appealed to the government and relevant electricity regulatory authorities to examine the complaints and ensure that residents were not subjected to unjustified charges.
The community’s Youth Chairman, Solomon Oboredewgoevu, also expressed concern over the alleged bills, particularly the possibility of residents being disconnected over disputed charges.
He said the community would resist any attempt to disconnect residents without first resolving the complaints through dialogue and proper verification.
Oboredewgoevu further alleged that residents were threatened with the deployment of security personnel during a meeting with the company’s operational manager over the payment of the disputed bills.
He criticised the alleged approach, arguing that consumers should be allowed to challenge questionable charges and obtain clarification on how their bills were calculated.
Also reacting, the Youth Chairman of the Ughelli Descendants Union, Comrade Ogheneovo Fidelis, said the reported cost of electricity was becoming increasingly difficult for residents to bear.
Fidelis alleged that some consumers spend about N20,000 on electricity recharge but exhaust the credit within approximately 48 hours.
He questioned the sustainability of such expenditure, particularly when residents were also complaining about inconsistent electricity supply.
A resident, Madam Queen, said she was unable to understand how she could have accumulated an electricity bill of more than N500,000, given the limited number of electrical appliances in her apartment.
She said she used only an electric bulb and a fan and appealed to the relevant authorities to investigate the bill.
Another resident described the alleged charges as unprecedented, saying the situation was placing additional pressure on families already struggling with the country’s economic challenges.
Read also:
- Governor Oborevwori Inspects Key Projects, Urges Isoko People To Deliver APC Candidates In 2027
- Governor Oborevwori Summons Contractor, Consultant Over 7-Year Delay On Irri Technical College Project
- Restoring Power in Isoko Nation: Oborevwori Committed to Lasting Electricity Solution, Anoka Assures Protester
She called for an independent assessment of the complaints and urged the authorities to prevent the dispute from escalating.
The Light Committee Chairman of Iwre-Ovie Ughelli, Mr Joseph Onojuwewho, also questioned the reported rate at which some residents’ prepaid electricity credits were being depleted.
Onojuwewho cited the reported case of a consumer who recharged N20,000 but allegedly exhausted the credit within two days.
He called for an immediate examination of the community’s metering and billing arrangements to determine whether the charges accurately reflect electricity consumption.
The residents are demanding that BEDC explain the basis for the disputed bills and provide greater transparency in its billing process.
They are also seeking the verification of unusually high bills and a review of charges found to be inconsistent with actual consumption.
In addition, the community wants consumers protected from disconnection or intimidation while legitimate billing complaints are being investigated.
The controversy has once again drawn attention to concerns surrounding electricity billing and metering in Nigeria, particularly disputes over whether consumers’ charges accurately reflect their actual consumption and the quality of electricity supplied.
For the Iwre-Ovie Ughelli residents, the immediate priority is for the disputed bills to be properly investigated, affected consumers to receive explanations and, where necessary, corrections, while a transparent and credible billing system is put in place.
