Widespread Power Outage Hits Enugu Over Tariff Dispute Between EEDC and MEDL

Residents across parts of Enugu State have been experiencing prolonged power outages following a tariff-related dispute between the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and its subsidiary, Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL).

In a statement issued on Monday, MEDL explained that the blackout, now entering its fourth day, was caused by a sharp reduction in energy allocation from EEDC.

The move was triggered by a new Tariff Order from the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), which slashed the rate for Band A customers from ₦209.50/kWh to ₦160.40/kWh.

MEDL said the reduction in tariff led EEDC to scale back its energy supply to avoid massive revenue losses. “After analysing the implications of the new tariff, EEDC projected a monthly loss of over ₦1 billion, making it difficult to meet market obligations. To cushion these losses, energy supplied to MEDL was cut by about 50%,” the company stated.

The electricity distributor clarified that it does not receive power directly from the national grid, but relies entirely on EEDC, which has the official supply agreement with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) company.

Apologizing for the inconvenience, MEDL assured customers that it is working closely with state and federal authorities to resolve the issue.

“We deeply regret the hardship this has caused and are actively engaging key stakeholders to restore normal service within the next 48 hours or shortly thereafter,” the statement added.

The company also acknowledged that its communication to the public was delayed due to the short notice it received regarding the new tariff and its financial implications.