Residents and business operators in Effurun and other parts of Uvwie Local Government Area in Delta State have submitted a petition to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), urging the commission to investigate the Band A metering system implemented by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in the area.
The aggrieved residents also complained about the persistent power outages and what they described as excessive electricity bills in Uvwie. They warned that if the billing system is not addressed, many businesses in the commercial hub of Delta State home to the Warri Refinery and several other major companies could soon be forced to shut down.
According to them, although they have been metered and placed under the “Band A” power distribution category, BEDC has failed to meet the required minimum of 20 hours of daily electricity supply as stipulated by NERC regulations.
Business owners and residents, particularly those along Refinery Stream One near NigerCat and surrounding streets in the Ekpan area, said they continue to pay high electricity charges despite receiving little to no power supply from BEDC.
They argued that the electricity being supplied does not justify the high bills issued by the distribution company, noting that many businesses receive less than 10 hours of electricity daily but are still subjected to what they consider unfair charges.
Speaking on behalf of hotel owners through a petition, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lascurt Hotel, Austin Wareyai, said BEDC’s continued overbilling, poor power supply, and alleged breaches of regulatory standards are severely affecting businesses in Uvwie, especially in the busy Refinery Stream 1 commercial area.
He appealed to the presidency, the Minister of Power, and NERC to investigate what he described as “daylight robbery” by BEDC, warning that failure to act could force many businesses to close.
Wareyai also accused the head of BEDC’s Warri Regional Office of being responsible for the excessive billing and called on NERC, the Minister of Power, and other relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the complaints raised by residents and business owners.
He further urged Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Power, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and NERC to intervene quickly to prevent businesses in the area from collapsing.
