A community in Anambra State, Umuodum Village, Ogba Quarters, Mbaukwu town in Awka South Local Government Area, has petitioned the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission over a disputed electricity bill of ₦38,123,672.73 issued by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.
The community made this known in a petition signed by Chukwuebuka Daniel Nweke Odum and Chukwuma Augustin Igboanugo, where it described the bill as questionable, insisting that payments had previously been made to EEDC.
According to the petition, the bill was presented as an outstanding debt linked to the community’s electricity account with details listed as EEDC Customer Account Number 138994651, Customer Name: ODUM S/S, and Address: Umuodum, Ogba, Mbaukwu.
The residents said electricity supply to the village was disconnected after EEDC claimed the community owed the said amount, a development that forced them to approach former leaders of the Umuodum Ogba Village Development Union who previously handled electricity matters.
They explained that the former officials denied knowledge of any outstanding debt, while the successor to the immediate past chairman reportedly accepted a handover note without raising any issue about unpaid electricity bills.
The community said this made residents believe that no such liability existed.
According to the petition, they were later shocked to receive a demand letter dated November 28, 2025, requesting payment of the alleged debt. The letter was reportedly delivered through the youth leader of the community.
The residents questioned why the letter was not formally addressed through the recognised leadership structure of the community, noting that EEDC was familiar with the proper administrative channels.
They also disclosed that the current caretaker chairman of the Umuodum Ogba Village Development Union, Mr Izuchukwu Abana, had earlier received a printout of the community’s electricity billing history from EEDC.
Based on this, the community called on NERC to step in and invite EEDC to present detailed records of payments made on the account or clarify the status of the alleged debt.
“We respectfully request the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to review the matter and help establish the true position of the community’s electricity account, in the interest of transparency and fairness,” the petition stated.
The community said it was seeking regulatory intervention to resolve the billing dispute and ensure accurate records, while also calling for the restoration of electricity supply to the area.
