Electricity consumers in the South East have called on the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) to urgently resolve the ongoing tariff dispute between it and Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited (MPDL). The appeal was made by the South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA), which represents electricity users in the region.
In a letter submitted to the EERC, SEECA’s Coordinator, Dr. Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor, emphasized that Enugu, as the capital of Igbo land and the former East Central State, requires stable power supply without exploiting consumers or the distribution company. He noted that the ongoing disagreement over the July 18, 2025, tariff order had left many communities in darkness and caused confusion in the electricity supply chain.
Okafor highlighted that both parties have entrenched positions, which have stalled progress. The key issues, he said, include data usage, technical losses, operational costs, and capital expenditure recognition all technical matters requiring neutral intervention. MPDL had petitioned against the regulator’s tariff reduction, arguing that the new Band A rate of N160/kWh would result in losses exceeding N1.3 billion in the first month, while the EERC maintains that the figures were based on the company’s own submissions.
SEECA also noted that electricity supply across Enugu has sharply declined since the dispute began, leaving many neighborhoods without power for days.
The association urged the EERC to suspend the implementation of the contested tariff order until the matter is fully resolved. It recommended appointing an independent, technically competent third party to review the disputed figures and mediate between the regulator and the distribution company. SEECA also called for provisions for meter installation to be incorporated into the tariff framework, ensuring timely distribution to unmetered customers across the state.
The group appealed to the EERC to maintain its impartial role, balancing the interests of both investors and consumers to ensure sustainable electricity delivery in the region.