The recent increase in electricity Tarriff is biting hard on hotel owners in Sapele and environ, resulting in some opting out of "line 33", .
Hotels, Churches and many individuals in this special band A of electricity Tarriff are complaining of the electricity bill they got in April 2024 and many of them are opting out of the special band A to the general band E while others sought solace in installation of solar panels.
An hotel owner interviewed said he was given a bill of N11 Million as against N2 Million that he used to pay and this had affected business negatively for him to the end that he presently had to ration power supply in his hotel.
Another hotel owner said rate that was formerly N67.45 per unit of energy consume increased to N225, same with cost of energy consumed and the percentage increase is over 335%.
Charge per energy consumed has equally increased from N1 Million to N7 Million and those formerly paying N2.7 Million monthly, got N11 Million as electricity bill in April 2024.
He opined that the Tarriff increase should be readdressed to save their business.
The story Is the same with Churches and individuals using the special Band A and many are opting out to the regular band E popularly called " Line 11".
An individual using the special band said during the two weeks blackout of power in Sapele town as a result of upgrade as stated by BEDC, she made use of generator to prepare ice block for sales and made over N460,000, only for this perceived profit to be swallowed up by the N1 Million electricity bill that came from BEDC.
She said her husband was pained by this development and had to install solar panels that can power her fridges, light and Air conditioners in their home.
She also pleaded that the new electricity Tarriff should be reviewed and reduced so that Nigerians can afford this services from the government as no civil servant can afford the present electricity Tarriff with the present minimum wage.
However, some residents expressed fears on this development.
Mama Ukugbeje Victoria, a self employed, said those using the general band had experienced peace since hotels , churches and some well to do individuals went to the special band A.
Ukugbeje said though the general band E hardly have light, but each time it comes, it is always "full voltage" with less problem from transformers, she said now that hotels and others are planning to come back to "line 11", she hope that it will not put the general line in total darkness with frequent problem of transformers due to overloading.
