By Suleiman Anyalewchi
An Abia State High Court sitting in Isiala Ngwa, on Thursday, February 20, 2025, granted an interim injunction restraining the authorities of Aba Power Limited from disconnecting electricity supply to its consumers within its area of operational jurisdiction – the Aba Ring Fence which covers nine Council Areas including Isiala Ngwa North.
Ruling in an ex-parte motion filed by Comrades Ike Opigwe, Ojukwu Imo, and Leonard Onyemesiri, on behalf of the Aba Electricity Consumers Forum, AECF, Justice Enyinnaya Okezie, also, issued an order allowing the claimants to serve all necessary court papers on the defendants through substituted means.
The defendants include Aba Power Limited Electric, Geometric Power Limited and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC.
The Claimants, in their application, argued that the planned mass disconnection exercise by the Aba Power Limited, if allowed to go on, will have severe negative consequences on consumers and their businesses.
They, therefore, prayed the Court to halt the planned disconnection exercise pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice before it.
The Source reports that the relationship between the APL and its millions of customers within Aba and environs has suffered severe strain since January 2025.
This followed the decision of the power distribution giant to effect an over 100 % increase in its monthly tariffs .
The policy which commenced in January 2025, has seen the monthly payable tariffs for a one room living apartment or shop, rising to over N54 ,000 .
Similarly, a block of flats, and modest bungalows are being slammed with a monthly estimated bill of between N80,000 and N100,000.
Business concerns, corporate entities and Governmental/Public institutions are given as much as between N500,000 and 1.5 million monthly bills.
The astronomical estimated bills were excruciating enough to force no few than three public protest marches by consumers between January and early February 2025 .
The protesters are particularly miffed by the seemingly insensitive bills and the refusal of the APL to provide its consumers with pre-paid meters as enjoined by regulatory authorities.
Although there has been a remarkable improvement in service delivery since December 2024, the protesting consumers are insisting that the new and arbitrary tariff regime will sooner than later drive them out of business if not checked.
However, the APL and its parent body, Geometric Power has insisted on the necessity of the new tariffs regime.
In an official leaflet availed consumers while officially flagging off the new tariff regime January ending 2025, the power distribution giant cited the rising cost of operations and maintenance of operational materials as some of the major reasons driving the tariff increase.
“Effective January 1,2025, our electricity tariff has been adjusted in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
“This adjustment is essential to maintaining a reliable and sustainable power supply amidst increasing economic pressures.
“While many other DISCOs adjusted their tariffs as early as April 2024, we kept our tariffs unchanged for months to shield our customers from rising economic pressures. Even now, our tariffs remain within reasonable range even as a100% privately owned business.
“We have been importing power from the National Grid due to lack of reliable gas supply to our sister Company GPAL
“The wholesale tariff we have been paying for power importation from the NDPHC since inception reached N136/KWh,while our highest tariff to customers up to December 2024 was N117/kWh for MD and 106/kwh for NMD .This resulted in a deficit”, APL stated.
The Court has adjourned till March 19, 2025 for hearing of the motion on notice.
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