Residents of Calabar, Cross River State, have expressed frustration over rising electricity bills, with some alleging incorrect tariff classification and excessive estimated charges despite inadequate power supply.

They have called on the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to review disputed bills, correct tariff classifications and ensure that customers are charged fairly for the electricity they receive.

One of the residents, identified simply as Kelvin, who lives in Big Qua Town, alleged that his compound had been wrongly classified under Band A instead of Band D, resulting in a sharp reduction in the electricity units they receive for the same amount of money.

According to him, a recharge of N10,000, which provided about 168 units between January and February, now yields between 30 and 44 units.

He said the compound, where three households share a prepaid meter, now spends about N10,000 weekly on electricity, compared with the same amount lasting almost a month previously.

Kelvin said residents visited the PHEDC office, where officials reportedly confirmed that their neighbourhood was classified under Band D but that their meter had been incorrectly aligned with Band A.

He added that they formally lodged a complaint on October 12 and were awaiting a response.

“We are paying for a service that we are not getting. What we are paying for and the service we are having do not tally,” he said.

Kelvin said the residents wanted PHEDC to correct the classification and restore their Band D status. He warned that they would petition the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) if the company failed to address the matter, adding that they would also seek compensation for the additional charges.

Another resident, Chris Njoku, who is on estimated billing, said his compound’s electricity bill rose from about N28,000 in August to N35,000 in September.

Njoku, whose compound comprises eight self-contained rooms, said the bill was shared equally among the occupants, with each paying N3,500 monthly.

Although he described the increase as manageable for now, he expressed concern about differences in electricity bills among residents in the same area.

He also alleged that some consumers believed they could negotiate lower bills with electricity company officials, raising questions about the transparency of the billing process.

Another customer, Venatius Oden, who lives along Old Odukpani Road, recounted how his estimated bills increased from about N30,000 when he moved into his apartment in September 2025 to N73,000 in September 2026 and N163,699 in October.

Oden, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment with what he described as limited electrical appliances, questioned the sharp increases, insisting that there had been no significant change in his household’s electricity consumption.

He said he was away from home for more than three weeks around June and July following his father’s death, yet received a bill of about N40,000 upon his return.

According to him, the bill rose to N73,000 in September before jumping to N163,699 in October. He alleged that PHEDC officials insisted he pay N150,000 or risk disconnection.

Oden said he had made part-payments of N20,000 and N30,000 while seeking a review of the charges.

“I am not saying I don’t want to pay my bills. I will pay. Electricity is very important, but we should be properly billed,” he said.

He appealed to PHEDC to inspect his apartment, assess his electrical appliances and determine whether the charges reflected his actual consumption.

Responding to the complaints, PHEDC Regional Manager, Calabar, Mr Gabriel Modupe, said the area around Ikot Ishie, near the market, was currently classified under Band A, although it had previously been on another tariff band.

He explained that customers without prepaid meters in Band A areas were billed under an arrangement known as energy capping, which limits the number of units used to calculate their bills.

According to him, differences in tariff rates could lead to higher bills even when electricity consumption remained relatively stable.

Modupe, however, said he would need to examine Oden’s specific bills before commenting on the reported increase from about N30,000 to more than N100,000.

He maintained that the size of a customer’s apartment did not necessarily determine electricity consumption, noting that the type of appliances used and how frequently they operated also influenced energy use.

The regional manager said PHEDC could visit the affected customer’s residence to investigate the complaint and determine whether the charges were justified.

He also encouraged customers without meters to consider the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme while awaiting mass metering.

Under the scheme, he explained, customers could pay for meters and recover the cost gradually through electricity credits as they recharge.

The complaints highlight growing concerns among electricity consumers about the affordability and transparency of billing, particularly among households relying on estimated bills or disputing tariff classifications.