The Commercial Freezer on Our Shared Compound Meter
Our household electricity split changed when a hidden freezer turned out to be a business.
In our aunt’s compound, six rooms split the electricity bill equally because everyone used the meter for ordinary household appliances. Last month’s bill doubled. I traced the extra load to a commercial freezer in my cousin Ifeoma’s locked back room, packed with chicken and fish for her frozen-food sales. She said we all knew she sold food and the freezer was small; nobody knew it ran day and night on the shared meter. When the landlord threatened disconnection, Ifeoma offered to add ₦10,000 and keep the freezer plugged in. The others want a separate meter, but installation will take weeks.
The question before the court
Should Ifeoma pay the extra power cost or should the compound keep splitting equally?
- Charge her measured commercial use from the next bill.
- Keep equal shares because everyone accepted the shared meter.
- Install a separate meter and split installation costs fairly.
- Ban the freezer until every tenant approves a new arrangement.
The final judgment
No verdict could be reached because no valid votes were cast.
- Charge her measured commercial use from the next bill.: 0 valid votes, 0%
- Keep equal shares because everyone accepted the shared meter.: 0 valid votes, 0%
- Install a separate meter and split installation costs fairly.: 0 valid votes, 0%
- Ban the freezer until every tenant approves a new arrangement.: 0 valid votes, 0%
0 valid votes. Final, server-validated record.
Community opinion, not legal advice.