States Accuse EEDC of Deliberate Power Cuts in Enugu

The Forum for Commissioners of Power and Energy in Nigeria (FOCPEN) has strongly condemned what it described as deliberate power outages orchestrated by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) in Enugu State. In a statement released on Tuesday, the group accused EEDC of reducing electricity supply to the state in retaliation for a recent tariff order that lowered electricity prices in Band A.

The statement, titled “Power Reduction to Enugu State: A Dangerous Precedent of Lawlessness by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company,” was jointly signed by FOCPEN Chairman and Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy in Cross River State, Prince Eka Williams, and the Acting Secretary and Commissioner for Rural and Energy Development, Engr. Mohammed Ihiezue Abdulmutalib. According to the commissioners, the EEDC’s action appears to be a direct response to a regulatory decision that cut Band A electricity tariffs from N209 per kilowatt-hour to N160/kWh, effective August 1, 2025. The tariff adjustment was issued to EEDC’s subsidiary, MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, by the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC).

FOCPEN stated that this act of retaliation by EEDC is not merely a disagreement with a regulatory body but a direct attack on the people of Enugu State. It described the decision as a gross violation of EEDC’s license obligations under national electricity regulations and a dangerous precedent that undermines public trust in Nigeria’s electricity sector. The forum further argued that the move highlights fundamental flaws in the privatization of the country’s power distribution companies, which it claims has allowed private operators to wield disproportionate power over citizens’ access to essential electricity services.

In its appeal to the federal authorities, FOCPEN called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately investigate the issue and take appropriate disciplinary action against EEDC. The forum insisted that EEDC acted without regulatory approval and urged NERC to prove it has the regulatory strength to oversee the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). FOCPEN emphasized that the Commission must not allow licensed power firms, especially successor distribution companies and their holding companies, to act with impunity against consumers.

The commissioners also urged the Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, to step in and ensure the restoration of electricity supply to affected areas in Enugu. They stated that the Minister, as the chief policy driver in the sector, must act swiftly to curtail what they described as lawlessness by power distribution companies that feel emboldened to arbitrarily deprive citizens of electricity without consequence.

Earlier this week, MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited confirmed that the power outages in parts of Enugu were due to reduced supply from EEDC following the tariff review by the EERC. Despite backlash from power generation companies (GenCos), FOCPEN has expressed full support for the regulator’s decision to slash Band A tariffs, stating it is a consumer-friendly move.

The controversy comes in the context of Nigeria’s evolving electricity sector. In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the Electricity Act 2023 into law, repealing the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005. The new law decentralizes the power sector, giving states the authority to regulate electricity within their respective territories. This landmark reform has enabled states like Enugu to take a more active role in shaping electricity tariffs and policies that directly impact their residents.

With Nigeria’s electricity generation recently peaking at 5,713.6 megawatts and the country setting a new daily energy delivery record, stakeholders are calling for more accountability and transparency in power distribution. FOCPEN’s statement has sparked renewed attention to the balance of power between regulators, distribution companies, and the rights of consumers across the nation.