KEY POINTS
- MainPower blames blackouts in Enugu on software glitches and a 50% supply cut by parent utility EEDC.
- The cuts follow a regulatory decision to lower top-tier electricity tariffs from ₦209/kWh to ₦160/kWh.
- Regulators warn that disputes must be handled through petitions, not supply restrictions.
MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited blames “code coverage conflicts” and other technical issues for the frequent blackouts that have affected parts of Enugu.
These issues make it challenging to disconnect the state’s grid from its parent network, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.
Customers on Bands B through E have been negatively impacted by the supply disruptions, and prepaid meter vending systems are also experiencing issues.
After being called in by the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) due to the worsening outage situation, MainPower, which provides service to Enugu under the state’s own electricity market framework, revealed the problems.
Company representatives claim that a persistent software bug that keeps the state’s power system from functioning separately from the larger EEDC network is the root of the issue.
Glitches Meet Politics in Power Supply Standoff
MainPower claims that after regulators reduced the Band A tariff from ₦209/kWh to ₦160/kWh on August 1, EEDC cut the state’s electricity allocation by about 50%. The EERC pushed through the rate cut in July with the intention of lowering premium customers’ costs, but it appears that it has strained relations with the parent utility, which serves a number of southeastern states.
The regulator has issued a warning, stating that any utility contesting a tariff order must submit a formal petition within 30 days and cannot simply cut off supply. Additionally, it mandated that MainPower formally notify clients of vending issues and the estimated time of service restoration.
Meanwhile, the government of Enugu claims to be collaborating with federal agencies and industry players to ensure a steady supply while making sure MainPower can recoup reasonable expenses.
