Enugu State has officially transferred control of its electricity distribution to Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited, marking the end of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company’s (EEDC) operations in the state. This milestone follows the full handover of regulatory authority from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the newly established Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC).
At a ceremony in Enugu on Tuesday, EERC Chairperson, Chijioke Okonkwo, hailed the move as a significant step towards sub-national electricity markets across Africa. “This assumption of regulatory oversight is not just about the transfer of authority but represents a shared vision for a more efficient, responsive, and innovative electricity market,” Okonkwo said.
Mainpower, a subsidiary of EEDC, has been granted an interim license to take over power distribution in the state. The EEDC will continue operations in other southeastern states, including Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo.
Mainpower’s Kester Enwereonu assured the people of Enugu of better electricity services, promising improved power distribution under the new regulatory framework tailored to the state’s needs. The EERC also licensed Fedikore Limited to build a 10-megawatt power plant, signaling the beginning of a broader industrial transformation.
This change follows the Nigerian government’s decision in 2023 to devolve power distribution, transmission, and regulation to states, enabling local governments, companies, and individuals to take charge of their electricity needs. President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the electricity bill in June 2024 further solidified this shift, empowering states like Enugu to manage their power sectors independently.
