Imagine paying top dollar for a service, only to be left in the dark—literally. That’s the harsh reality for residents of Enugu State, particularly those in areas like Emene and Thinkers Corner, who are shelling out for the premium Band A electricity tariff of N209 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), yet are experiencing worsening power outages. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite regulations from the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) guaranteeing Band A customers a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily, many are now receiving less than 10 hours. This has sparked accusations of exploitation by electricity distribution companies, leaving residents feeling betrayed and frustrated.
“This is fraud,” declared Chinoso Emeh, a Band A customer in Emene, echoing the sentiments of many. “The Federal Government keeps approving tariff increases for the Discos, but they’re not holding up their end of the bargain. If we’re paying premium rates and not even getting half the promised supply, how is that fair? Where’s the compensation for this blatant disregard of our rights?”
This outcry comes amidst a tangled web of regulatory and commercial disputes in Enugu’s power sector. Earlier this year, the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) announced a tariff cut, reducing the Band A rate from N209/kWh to N160/kWh, effective August 1, 2025. And this is the part most people miss: the EERC’s decision was based on a cost-reflective tariff model that factored in federal subsidies on electricity generation. EERC Chairman Chijioke Okonkwo explained, “We reviewed their costs using the Tariff Methodology Regulations 2024 and the Distribution Tariff Model, arriving at an average price of N94. The Federal Government is subsidizing generation costs by about N45 out of the actual cost of N112 for Enugu State.”
Under the revised order, Band A customers were to pay N160/kWh, while tariffs for Bands B, C, D, and E remained unchanged. According to Okonkwo, this adjustment aimed to shield residents from soaring energy costs while helping operators manage financial shocks. “The reduced rate could become unsustainable if federal subsidies are withdrawn,” he cautioned, adding, “Band A, at N160, was designed to help MainPower absorb the impact, with savings intended to stabilize tariffs over time.”
However, the tariff reduction ignited fierce backlash from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) Plc. Almost immediately after the EERC’s announcement, power supply plummeted across major parts of the state. On August 4, MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, an EEDC subsidiary, blamed the outages on reduced energy allocation from its parent company. In a public statement, MainPower revealed that EEDC had slashed supply after concluding the new tariff would result in monthly losses exceeding N1 billion. “Implementing this tariff would make it impossible for us to meet our market obligations,” MainPower stated, adding, “EEDC was left with no choice but to reduce the energy supplied to us.”
The company apologized for the inconvenience and assured customers it was working with state and federal authorities to resolve the deadlock. Yet, despite the EERC’s stance, Band A customers were soon reverted to the N209/kWh tariff, even as power supply remained erratic. Residents now find themselves paying more for less, a situation one resident described as “being forced to pay premium tariffs without premium supply.”
Here’s the burning question: Is this a case of regulatory failure, corporate greed, or a flawed system? As outages persist, consumers are demanding action from NERC and the Enugu State government. They’re calling for enforced service-level agreements and protection from what they see as systematic overbilling without adequate electricity supply. If this continues, should regulators step in to mandate refunds or compensation? Or is there a deeper issue at play that requires a complete overhaul of the system? Let’s hear your thoughts—do you agree with the residents, or do you see another side to this story?
