Ondo Small Business Owners Groan Under High Electricity Bills

Small business owners in Ondo State have lamented the high cost of electricity.

They said the rising expenses were eating into their earnings and increasing the financial burden of running their businesses.

The operators told LEADERSHIP that they spend substantial amounts on electricity monthly despite having other expenses, including rent, raw materials and equipment maintenance.

A laundry operator, Agbaje Emmanuel, said he spends about N30,000 monthly on electricity, describing the cost as unsustainable for a small business.

Emmanuel, who depends on electricity to operate his washing and pumping machines as well as pressing iron, said he receives only 44 units whenever he buys N10,000 worth of electricity under Band A.

He explained that the units usually last between seven and 10 days, forcing him to recharge his meter at least three times monthly.

“Anytime I load N10,000, I receive 44 units, and within just nine to 10 days, everything will finish. At times, it even finishes before a week.

“So, in a month, I have to load at least three times, and that is N30,000. How much exactly am I earning that I spend so much on electricity?” he queried.

He said the expenditure was separate from the cost of rent, detergents and other materials needed to operate the laundry, adding that the nature of his business made it impossible to operate without electricity.

A restaurant operator, Yemisi Ashogbo, also said she spends more than N20,000 monthly on electricity to power her refrigerator, which she needs to keep drinks and bottled water cold for customers.

Ashogbo said the income generated from selling drinks was insufficient to cover her electricity expenses, forcing her to rely on proceeds from food sales to make up for the cost.

‎”The amount I spend on electricity is more than the income I make from drinks alone. It is the food that I sell that I use to complement myself,” she said.

‎She attributed the high cost to her Band A classification, adding that she might be forced to stop using electricity if the situation continued.

‎Similarly, a provision seller, Tosin Ayodele, said the cost of electricity had become too high for her to sustain, prompting her to discontinue its use.

‎Ayodele said she was currently saving towards purchasing a solar power system as an alternative source of electricity.

‎”I have even stopped using electricity altogether. The bill is too high, and I can no longer maintain it. I am currently saving for solar. Once I have solar, I don’t have to worry again,” she said.

‎The complaints come amid concerns among small business operators over the cost of maintaining electricity-dependent businesses, with some struggling to balance power expenses against other operational costs.