“Apply Regulatory Sanctions against EEDC: NERC must sanction EEDC for its actions.  The Commission must prove that it has the teeth to regulate the NESI as the apex regulator and protect consumers from the tyranny of powerful Successor DisCos HoldCos that are currently its licensees”, said the forum.

The FOCPEN strongly condemned the recent and ongoing power outages in Enugu State, attributable to a deliberate action by EEDC to reduce power to Enugu State electricity market.

The statement reads in part: “EEDC has based its decision  on the recent tariff order issued to its subsidiary company, MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (“Main Power”), by the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (the “Regulator”), which reduced Band A electricity tariffs from N209/kwh to N160/kwh effective from August 1st, 2025.

“FOCPEN views this unilateral action by EEDC not merely as a regulatory dispute with the Regulator, but as a declaration of war on the good people of Enugu State by EEDC. FOCPEN wishes to state that EEDC’s reckless action is a grave violation of its license obligations under existing national electricity regulations. EEDC’s action is also a clear demonstration of the flawed privatization process that has empowered private investors of DisCos to deprive citizens of essential electricity services with impunity.

“FOCPEN wishes to state unequivocally that if MainPower or EEDC believe the tariff as set by the Regulator is inadequate, the appropriate and legal path is to seek a review through established regulatory processes.

 To resort to an arbitrary disconnection or reduction of power by up to 50% to a State, smacks of blackmail by EEDC.

“EEDC’s action also portends grave danger for consumer rights in the NESI, and undermines the ongoing implementation of State Electricity Markets (SEM). Furthermore, it exposes the alarming market power of DisCos to hold electricity regulators at sub-national and at the federal level, to ransom.

“EEDC’s action sets a dangerous precedent for other DisCos to undermine the successful implementation of the Electricity Act 2023 and decentralization of electricity regulations.

“FOCPEN calls on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately call EEDC to order. NERC, as the current regulator of EEDC, must investigate this matter thoroughly and sanction this unacceptable action by EEDC, which FOCPEN believes has no regulatory approval from NERC.

“To prevent such reckless action by a Distribution Licensee from happening again, FOCPEN demands the following:

“FOCPEN will continue to monitor the situation closely and will not hesitate to take further action to ensure the rights of consumers within SEMs are protected. FOCPEN stands in solidarity with the people of Enugu State and call on all relevant authorities to address this crisis with the urgency it deserves.”