Residents and businesses across parts of Enugu State have been plunged into darkness following a significant reduction in electricity supply by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), triggering widespread disruptions and public concern.
In a public announcement released on Monday, the management of Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) disclosed that the ongoing blackout, which has lasted for over four days, was caused by a drastic drop in energy allocation from its parent company, EEDC. The company attributed the situation to the recent tariff cut announced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
According to the statement, NERC had earlier issued a revised tariff order that lowered the cost for Band A electricity consumers from ₦209.50 per kilowatt-hour to ₦160.40/kWh. This, MEDL said, has significantly affected the financial projections and operational strategy of EEDC.
“After analysing the implications of the new tariff, EEDC concluded that implementing it would result in a monthly loss of over ₦1 billion, which makes it impossible for EEDC to meet her obligations to the market,” the statement explained.
Consequently, EEDC made a “difficult decision” to scale down the volume of energy supplied to its subsidiaries, including MEDL, in a bid to mitigate the expected financial losses. As a result, electricity supply to major parts of Enugu State has been severely disrupted, affecting homes, hospitals, and small businesses that rely on power for daily operations.
MEDL, in its communique, tendered an apology to its customers for the inconvenience, assuring that engagements are underway with relevant government stakeholders at both the state and federal levels to resolve the crisis swiftly.
“We deeply regret the inconvenience this situation has caused our valued customers. Discussions are ongoing with key stakeholders to quickly resolve this issue. We are hopeful that a resolution will be reached within the next 48 hours or soon thereafter,” the company said.
The company also acknowledged that communication with the public was delayed, citing the sudden nature of the development as the reason for the late notice.
The blackout has already begun to take a toll on the local economy. Small-scale businesses that depend on daily electricity—such as welders, hairdressers, and frozen food vendors—have reported major losses due to the outage. Several residents have also taken to social media to lament the rising cost of fuel for generators, which has become their only alternative for electricity.
Public affairs analyst, Chika Onah, described the situation as “deeply worrisome,” adding that “if tariff cuts meant to cushion the burden on consumers are causing a withdrawal of services, then there’s a major disconnect in Nigeria’s power policy framework.”
Many have called on NERC to step in urgently to strike a balance between protecting consumers and sustaining power distribution companies financially. The silence from federal authorities, particularly the Ministry of Power, has added to the frustration of affected communities.
Analysts believe that this incident underscores the fragility of Nigeria’s power sector, where pricing decisions directly affect operational viability. While affordability remains key for end-users, experts stress that sustainability for electricity providers must also be factored into the national power pricing model.
As at the time of filing this report, MEDL said power supply had not yet been restored, but that negotiations were progressing. Customers are advised to remain patient while efforts continue to stabilise the situation.