MainPower Seeks Customers’ Support, Plans N1.2bn Network Investment in Enugu Community
MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has called for the support and collaboration of its customers in Ugwuaji Community within Enugu as it plans to invest about N1.2 billion in metering, rehabilitation and upgrade of its electricity network in the community.
The company also announced plans to comprehensively enumerate and meter about 7,500 customers in Ugwuaji community as part of efforts to improve service delivery and strengthen its relationship with customers.
The Managing Director of MainPower, Dr Ernest Mupwaya, disclosed this on Friday during a stakeholder engagement with the Ugwuaji Community organised by the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC).
Mupwaya said the company was committed to resolving the outstanding historical issues affecting its relationship with the community.
He noted that a joint committee comprising five representatives of Ugwuaji Community and five representatives of MainPower had been constituted to work towards resolving the issues.
He described the relationship between MainPower and its customers in Ugwuaji as “a marriage which can never be dissolved.”
According to him, metering remained the major issue affecting the relationship between the company and its customers, noting that about 90 per cent of the concerns raised by customers at the engagement were related to metering.
He assured the customers of MainPower’s commitment to meter all its customers by the end of 2027, stressing that the initiative would promote fair and transparent transactions between the company and its customers.
Mupwaya said the company’s investment plan for Ugwuaji comprised customer enumeration, metering, infrastructure improvement, and protection of its investments.
He further announced that MainPower was ready to commence a comprehensive customer enumeration exercise, noting that the meters required for the exercise were already available.
“The customer enumeration would enable us to maintain an accurate database, improve service delivery, and keep our customers informed of major developments through electronic communication channels,” he said.
The Managing Director explained that the metering programme was a proactive measure by MainPower in preparation for increased electricity generation, particularly the planned 660MW power generation project being pursued by the Enugu State Government.
He said the company’s long-term objective was to move towards 24-hour electricity supply, adding that comprehensive metering would ensure that customers manage their electricity consumption.
Mupwaya appealed to residents of Ugwuaji to partner with the company in protecting electricity infrastructure, urging both parties to put past challenges behind them, and work together to build a stronger and more productive relationship.
He emphasised that improved electricity service delivery would require a shared commitment from the company and its customers, particularly in the areas of infrastructure protection, payment of electricity bills, metering, and effective communication.
In his welcome address, the Chairman/CEO of EERC, Mr. Chijioke Okonkwo, highlighted the transformation taking place in the electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023.
Okonkwo noted that Enugu State was the first state to take advantage of the provisions of the Act to enact its own electricity law and establish a state electricity regulatory commission, thereby opening up the state’s electricity market to investment and expanding access to electricity.
He urged customers to appreciate and support the ongoing transformation, stressing that the electricity infrastructure in Ugwuaji had the potential to support economic expansion and attract investment to the community.
He also called on residents to protect electricity infrastructure, desist from energy theft and other illegal activities, pay their electricity bills, and support MainPower’s efforts to improve service delivery.
Earlier, the Traditional Ruler of Ugwuaji, Igwe Chinedu Nwobodo, welcomed the stakeholders to the community and recounted some of the challenges the community had experienced with electricity supply over the years.
Nwobodo appealed to MainPower to intensify efforts to improve the quality of service in the community, while commending the company’s management for taking steps to revive and strengthen its relationship with the community.
“MainPower has started well and I urge you not to relent,” he said.
The engagement also featured presentations to customers by the Commissioner for Engineering, Health and Safety, EERC, Engr. Chinedum Ukabiala, and the Head, Consumer Complaints Resolution Desk (CCRD), EERC, Nennaya Ugwu, on “Understanding the Importance of Metering” and “Consumer Rights and Responsibilities under the Electricity Regulatory Framework,” respectively.
The forum provided an opportunity for customers to raise concerns about electricity supply and service delivery, and these concerns were addressed by officials of EERC and MainPower.
Other members of the MainPower management team at the engagement included: the Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Ikenna Akabogu; Chief Technical Officer, Engr. Chimezie Chukwu; Head, Customer Service, Mrs. Ijeoma Ogudebe.
The rest are: Head, Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh; Head, Health, Safety and Environment, Dr Francis Iwu; Head, Operations, Engr. Ikenna Mbamalu; and District Business Manager, Awkunanaw District, Mr Nelson Iwuagwu.
