For many Band A electricity customers, the promise of uninterrupted power has turned into a costly illusion.
Despite paying premium tariffs—sometimes as high as ₦116 per kilowatt-hour—businesses and households struggle with erratic supply, often receiving just a fraction of the expected hours.
These customers, mainly industries and commercial businesses, accuse Distribution Companies (DisCos) of imposing high charges while failing to deliver reliable service.
“We know these DisCos are fleecing us,” said managing director of a manufacturing company in Lagos, Taiwo Adebayo.
“We pay exorbitant tariffs for a service that hardly exists.
The constant power outages cripple our businesses and hurt our productivity.”
Paying More, Getting Less
For Band A customers, frustration grows as they compare what they pay with what they receive.
While tariffs for this category can reach as high as ₦116 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), many complain that DisCos provide far fewer hours of electricity than they promise.
In some cases, supply drops to just 6 to 8 hours a day, forcing businesses and households to rely on costly alternatives such as generators.
“I run a small bakery, and I need electricity to keep my business running,” said Adunni Adebayo, a customer in Abuja.
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“I pay over ₦100,000 per month for electricity, yet I still spend almost the same amount on diesel for my generator.
What is the point of being in Band A if I don’t get the service I paid for?”
Despite failing to provide reliable supply, DisCos continue to send out high bills, often basing charges on estimated consumption rather than actual meter readings.
Many businesses now struggle with unsustainable electricity costs.
“The DisCos care more about collecting money than delivering reliable service,” complained Mrs Olasumbo, who runs a small textile factory.
“We are barely keeping our businesses afloat, and these exorbitant bills are making it even harder.”
Disruptions And Explanations
On February 7, Ikeja Electric issued a notice informing customers in Ojodu, Alagbole, and surrounding areas that load limitations from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had disrupted power supply.
According to Ikeja Electric, a fault on the Ogba 100 MVA transformer has damaged several feeders in the Ikeja Business Unit.
The areas experiencing outages include Ojodu 11kV, Alagbole 11kV, King Avenue 11kV, Express 11kV, River Valley 11kV, Yakoyo 11kV, and New Ojodu 33kV.
“We understand the challenges this disruption has created, and we are doing everything possible to resolve the issue quickly,” the company stated.
“We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding during this period.”
However, many Band A customers see these explanations as repetitive and unconvincing.
As the power supply remains erratic and bills continue to rise, businesses and households wonder—when will they finally receive the reliable electricity they pay for?
