Many customers have complained that they are unable to pay their energy bills and have asked electricity distribution firms, or DisCos, to cut off their power supply.

The majority of clients that want to disconnect are postpaid users who belong to Band A and B.

Findings from Saturday PUNCH showed that, depending on the size of the home or business and the electricity devices, customers receive projected bills that range from N40,000 to N400,000.

This occurred because certain Band A prepaid customers were unable to pay their electricity bills, which resulted in them being without power for days.

Band B has an electricity rate of N64.07 per kWh, whereas Band A has a tariff of N209.50 per kWh.

Band B customers have 16 hours of power each day, compared to Band A’s minimum of 20 hours.

Nigerians have been complaining about the rising cost of petrol and energy rates.

Many unmetered customers are still complaining about their DisCos’ exorbitant projected billing, which makes them decide to forgo electricity rather than accrue debt for “unused energy.”

In the midst of economic hardship, Saturday PUNCH observed that more customers were requesting that DisCos cut their energy because of projected billing.

Speaking to our correspondent on condition of anonymity on Thursday, an Ikeja Electricity Distribution business employee stated that the business disconnects 15 to 20 homes each month in response to owner requests.

He claims that regardless of the structure, the impacted customers receive monthly bills ranging from N180,000 to N300,000.

“People frequently ask for it, especially those on Band A who struggle to pay for electricity,” he added. Disconnection requests have been made by Band A postpaid users who are angry over predicted bills of N80,000, N100,000, N200,000, N350,000, and more.

Every month on average, we disconnect 15 to 20 homes upon request and suspend their services while prepaid meters are installed. In response to demands, we recently disconnected a few structures in Ijedodo and parts of Okota. No Band A region is immune from these demands for disconnection.

Bisola Adeoye, a minor shopkeeper on Abija Street in the Alekuwodo neighbourhood of Osogbo, Osun State, told Saturday PUNCH that she chose to disconnect because she was unable to pay the expected energy bill.

According to Adeoye, she frequently receives random projected billing for a single business that ranges from N200,000 to N300,000.

“I only have one shop, and the lowest amount I ever got billed in a month was N200,000,” she stated. At first, IBEDC authorities requested that I pay N15,000 each month. I was thereafter requested to pay N25,000 each month for the predicted amount. The bill was intolerable and suffocating. I would get into debt, so I requested them to turn off the electricity.

Baba Solia, a different customer in the Orinsumibare neighbourhood of Owode-Ede, Osun State, called the projected billing “difficult to pay” and “crazy.”

He complained about paying N120,000 a month for a house that had only a radio, TV, and refrigerator.

He bemoaned, “I told them to disconnect my electricity three weeks ago because I cannot continue paying for what I didn’t use. I have other responsibilities. My priority is feeding my family. The economy is hard.” Dupe Ishola, a resident of Iya Nurse Street, Asanmajana, Moniya area of Ibadan, Oyo State, also accused the IBEDC of being insensitive to the plight of the people by providing estimated bills when people are already facing hardship. Ishola claimed that the estimated billing had accumulated to over N1.2 million, even though she paid N10,000 per month for a shop that only had a freezer and fan.

In his remarks, Akeem Akejo, the Chairman of the Seidu II community in Ikorodu, Lagos State, bemoaned the exorbitant energy rates and urged DisCos to take the average person into account.

Everyone is complaining that the electricity rate is too expensive. Prepaid owners voice their displeasure. The recipients are those on direct lines. DisCos must to lower costs and provide prepaid meters, he stated.

According to Olufemi Adeyemi, a resident of Oyekan Street, Ogijo, Ogun State, his community has hired a lawyer to handle DisCos’ projected billing.

My power got cut off, therefore I’m on a direct line. The issue is handled by the Community Development Committee, and the distribution company is contacted by a lawyer. We are unable to pay for power.

Sunday Oduntan, the DisCos spokeswoman, expressed sympathy for the impacted customers but also stated that power distribution businesses should be compensated for their services.

“Given the exorbitant expense of living, I understand Nigerians who are thinking of disconnecting. Like other products, electricity is a product. When necessary, you make a payment.

“DisCos demand money for the services they supply. Oduntan said, “Whoever sells electricity has to recoup costs so they can sell again tomorrow.”

Oduntan claims that the government is unable to assist those who are in need of energy because of the lack of data.

“In Nigeria, we don’t have reliable statistics. “The government can help consumers who need help if it is available,” he said.