Residents in parts of Enugu State have been experiencing extended power outages due to a significant drop in electricity allocation, according to the Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL).
In a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by the company’s spokesman, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, the management explained that the disruption stems from a reduction in energy supply from its parent company, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), which sources electricity from the national grid.
“For over four days, there has been a sharp drop in energy allocation from EEDC, which has directly impacted our ability to distribute power to our customers,” the statement said.
Mainpower linked the development to a recent directive from the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), which issued a new tariff order reducing the rate for Band A customers from N209.50/kWh to N160.40/kWh.
“Upon receiving the Tariff Order, MEDL promptly informed EEDC, our energy supplier. However, after reviewing the financial implications, EEDC projected a potential monthly loss of over N1 billion if the new tariff was implemented,” the company said.
To mitigate the projected loss, EEDC reportedly made the decision to cut down the volume of electricity supplied to Mainpower, resulting in the DisCo receiving only about 50% of its usual allocation.
Mainpower clarified that it does not have a direct connection to the national grid. Instead, it relies entirely on EEDC, which holds a vesting contract with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) agency responsible for bulk electricity supply.
“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to our customers,” the company stated, adding that consultations are ongoing with key stakeholders, including EEDC, EERC, NERC, NISO, and NBET, to resolve the issue promptly.
“We are hopeful that a resolution will be reached within the next 48 hours or shortly thereafter.”
The statement also acknowledged the delay in public communication, explaining that the company only recently received full details of the situation. It appealed for customers’ continued patience and understanding as efforts to restore full power supply intensify.
