The Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission has downgraded 59 electricity feeders operated by MainPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited over what it described as persistent failure to meet the minimum power supply hours required under the Service-Based Tariff regime.
MainPower, a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, provides electricity services to consumers across Enugu State.
The Commission said the affected feeders, many of which were previously classified under Band A, would remain downgraded until the company improves supply performance in line with regulatory standards.
The development follows months of complaints by residents and businesses across the state over poor electricity supply despite being charged higher Band A tariffs.
Under the classification introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in November 2020, Band A customers are expected to receive a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily, while Band B customers should get at least 16 hours, Band C 12 hours, Band D eight hours, and Band E four hours.
In a public notice issued by the Commission, EERC said its decision followed extensive technical audits and performance monitoring of MainPower’s operations.
According to the Commission, the action was prompted by “persistent complaints from electricity consumers in Enugu State, particularly Band A customers” over sharply reduced hours of electricity supply.
The Commission disclosed that it carried out technical and safety inspections at major injection substations operated by MainPower while simultaneously monitoring feeder performance through its Electronic Design and Manufacturing International (EDMI) Multidrive Manager platform.
“The findings from the Commission’s field inspection and the online monitoring platform corroborated customers’ complaints that MainPower had failed to deliver the expected hours of supply as required under the Service-Based Tariff regime,” the notice stated.
“The SBT framework was introduced to ensure that customers pay for electricity commensurate with the quality and hours of availability of the supply received.
“The public is hereby notified that the Commission has directed MainPower to downgrade all fifty-nine affected feeders, as listed in the Commission’s directive, to their appropriate service bands immediately,” it added.
EERC, however, noted that any feeder could be restored to its previous band if MainPower demonstrates consistent compliance with the required minimum hours of electricity supply.
The Commission said upgrades would only be approved “once it is verified that the feeder met the threshold of minimum hours of availability in the preceding month in line with the SBT framework.”
Among the feeders affected by the downgrade are 9th Mile Industrial 11KV, moved from Band A to Band C; Abakaliki Road 11KV, downgraded from Band A to Band C; Abakpa 1 11KV, from Band A to Band C; Abakpa 2 11KV, from Band A to Band C; and Abakpa 3 11KV, downgraded from Band B to Band C.
Others include Amorji 11KV, moved from Band B to Band D; Nsukka Township, from Band B to Band D; Presidential, from Band A to Band C; UNEC, from Band A to Band D; University of Nigeria Nsukka, from Band A to Band D; and Government House, downgraded from Band A to Band E.
Several other areas affected by the downgrade include Emene, Topland, Ugwuoye, Chime Avenue, Achi, Amechi, Ibagwa, Ugwuogo, Ugwuaji, Okwe, NOWAS, Coca Cola, Coal Camp, and Dhamija, among others.
