In a major step towards eliminating estimated billing and enhancing customer satisfaction, the MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has announced plans to commence Mobile MAP Metering Program across its network, to fast-track the metering process for unmetered customers.

The metering initiative, which will kick off on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, with its Abakpa and Ogui Districts, offers customers the opportunity to get metered within 72 hours.

The Head, Corporate Communications, MEDL, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who made this known in a release issued on Monday said that the Mobile MAP Metering Program aligns with the company’s commitment to bridging the existing metering gap, improving transparency in billing, and empowering customers with more control over their electricity consumption.

According to him, the program will be conducted in phases across various district offices, ensuring that all unmetered customers have access to quick and convenient metering options.

The company has urged customers in the selected districts to take advantage of the opportunity, emphasizing that accurate metering empowers users to take full control of their energy consumption and eliminates billing disputes.

Customers who are interested in the program are required to visit the designated locations with a copy of their electricity bill and a valid means of identification.

He also said that the approved meter prices range from N137,062.50 for a Single-Phase meter to N227,900.00 for a Three-Phase meter, and that the costs which are subject to monthly review are inclusive of 7.5% VAT.

Ezeh emphasized that payment for meters during the program would be with Debit Cards (ATM Cards) only, as cash transactions will not be accepted.

He assured customers that there are no extra or hidden charges involved in the process other than the payment for the meter and encouraged them to report any form of extortion by using its established whistle blowing line (08146026678).

The company encouraged unmetered customers within the specified districts to take advantage of this metering program to get metered faster.

Ezeh stated that while this mobile metering exercise is ongoing, the regular MAP metering process remains available. Customers who are unable to participate in the mobile program can still walk into any of the company’s district offices or visit the official website to apply for a meter through the standard application process.

“Our goal is to ensure more of our customers are metered and are able to manage their energy consumption” Ezeh added.

••• Freezes Bands B, C, D and E Tariffs

The Enugu State Electricityv Regulatory Commission (EERC), has issued a new tariff to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, the utility that succeeded Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC), for electricity distribution in the state, reviewing electricity cost for Band A from N209/ kWh (per kiloWatt) to N160 kWh, effective from August 1, 2025.

This was contained in the Commission’s Order No. EERC/2025/003 entitled “Tariff Order for MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited 2025, issued by the Commission at the weekend.

It said its decision was cost reflective, insisting that tariff must reflect power generation subsidy by the federal government for the benefit of electricity consumers.

EERC predicated its action on the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023, which empowers the Commission to regulate the activities of operators in power generation, transmission, and distribution in and exclusively for the state.

This Law signed by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State in September 2023, is pursuant to the 2023 Constitutional Amendment which firmly established the legislative authority of the states on electricity matters within their states. This was followed by the passage of the Electricity Act 2023, that repealed the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, and introduced major changes such as the separation of distribution and supply operations, and empowers states to regulate their own electricity markets.

Throwing more light on the development, EERC Chairman, Chijioke Okonkwo, said that the reduction in tariff became imperative following the Commission’s review of MainPower’s tariff and licence applications as the new subsidiary company (SubCo) that operates in Enugu State.

“We reviewed their entire costs, using our Tariff Methodology Regulations 2024, and the supporting Distribution Tariff Model to get an average price of N94.

“The price is low because the Federal Government has been subsidising electricity generation cost which charges only N45 out of the actual cost of N112. That was how we came about the average tariff of N94 as cost reflective tariff at our level as a subnational electricity market.

“Breaking this across the various tariff bands means that Band A will be paying N160 while other Bands B, C, D, and E are frozen.

“Band A, at N160 will help MainPower to manage the rate shock, and if the subsidy is removed, the savings will assist them in stabilising the tariff over a defined period of time. Nevertheless, at all times, the tariff will be cost reflective and will not require any state subsidy,” Okonkwo stated.

He noted, however, that the N160 Band A tariff could be difficult to sustain should the Federal Government remove the generation tariff subsidy currently being enjoyed by electricity consumers throughout the country, as tariffs would most likely rise beyond these new rates.

“But until then, it is only right that Ndi Enugu – Band A customers enjoy the reduced tariff effective August 1, 2025,” the Commission’s Chairman added.

Meanwhile, EERC also said it had put in place monitoring and evaluation systems and guidelines to ensure MainPower’s compliance with service commitments so that its customers do not pay more for less power.

“MainPower is obliged to publish daily on its website a rolling seven-day average daily hours of supply on each Bank A feeder no later than 9am of the next day.

“Where MainPower fails to deliver on the committed level of service on Band A feeder for two consecutive days, MainPower shall report this to the Commission within 24 hours.

“Where MainPower fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder shall be automatically downgraded to the recorded level of supply.

“The Commission is committed to working with industry developers, investors, customers and Stakeholders to develop and implement strategies and solutions to provide access and improve electricity services to all the citizens of the state, as this is a win for the establishment,” the Commission concluded.

The Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), has issued a new tariff to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, the utility that succeeded Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC), for electricity distribution in the state, reviewing electricity cost for Band A from N209/ kWh (per kiloWatt) to N160 kWh, effective from August 1, 2025.

This was contained in the Commission’s Order No. EERC/2025/003 entitled “Tariff Order for MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited 2025, issued by the Commission at the weekend.

It said its decision was cost reflective, insisting that tariff must reflect power generation subsidy by the federal government for the benefit of electricity consumers.

EERC predicated its action on the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023, which empowers the Commission to regulate the activities of operators in power generation, transmission, and distribution in and exclusively for the state.

This Law signed by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State in September 2023, is pursuant to the 2023 Constitutional Amendment which firmly established the legislative authority of the states on electricity matters within their states.

This was followed by the passage of the Electricity Act 2023, that repealed the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, and introduced major changes such as the separation of distribution and supply operations, and empowers states to regulate their own electricity markets.

Throwing more light on the development, EERC Chairman, Chijioke Okonkwo, said that the reduction in tariff became imperative following the Commission’s review of MainPower’s tariff and licence applications as the new subsidiary company (SubCo) that operates in Enugu State.

“We reviewed their entire costs, using our Tariff Methodology Regulations 2024, and the supporting Distribution Tariff Model to get an average price of N94.

“The price is low due to some reasons and including the fact the Federal Government is subsidising electricity generation cost which comes to a cost of about ₦45 out of the actual cost of ₦112 for Enugu State. That was how we came about the average tariff of ₦94 as cost reflective tariff at our level as a subnational electricity market.

“The actual PPA cost of any power purchase made by Mainpower out side the one subsidized by Federal Government, through the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) will trigger automatic tariff adjustment to accommodate the PPA price because it will not be subsidized by the Federal Government”.

“Breaking this across the various tariff bands means that Band A will be paying ₦160 while other Bands B, C, D, and E are frozen.

“Band A, at ₦160 will help MainPower to manage the rate shock, and if the subsidy is removed, the savings will assist them in stabilising the tariff over a defined period of time. Nevertheless, at all times, the tariff will be cost reflective and will not require any state subsidy,” Okonkwo stated.

He noted, however, that the ₦160 Band A tariff could be difficult to sustain should the Federal Government remove the generation tariff subsidy currently being enjoyed by electricity consumers throughout the country, as tariffs would most likely rise beyond these new rates.

“But until then, it is only right that Ndi Enugu – Band A customers enjoy the reduced tariff effective August 1, 2025,” the Commission’s Chairman added.

Meanwhile, EERC also said it had put in place monitoring and evaluation systems and guidelines to ensure MainPower’s compliance with service commitments so that its customers do not pay more for less power.

“MainPower is obliged to publish daily on its website a rolling seven-day average daily hours of supply on each Bank A feeder no later than 9am of the next day.
“Where MainPower fails to deliver on the committed level of service on Band A feeder for two consecutive days, MainPower shall report this to the Commission within 24 hours.

“Where MainPower fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder shall be automatically downgraded to the recorded level of supply.

“The Commission is committed to working with industry developers, investors, customers and Stakeholders to develop and implement strategies and solutions to provide access and improve electricity services to all the citizens of the state, as this is a win for the establishment,” the Commission concluded. GMTNewsng

Two members of the Abia State House of Assembly have lauded Aba Power for the utility’s ongoing aggressive distribution of smart meters in its coverage area.

Aaron Uzodike, chairman of the state legislative Committee on Power and Utilities, and Uche Onye, a member of the committee, made the commendation in two separate interviews with journalists after visiting the Aba Power headquarters in the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba to inspect the first batch of 20,000 smart meters from China which are being distributed as the company resumed its free mass meter roll-out last week.

“We can’t deny the evidence of our own eyes”, Uzodike stated. “They are not just 20,000 meters available as Aba Power pledged to members of the Abia State House of Assembly for distribution within one month when we invited them on two occasions to Umuahia, but are also state of the art.

“What is more, they are being given to customers free of charge, though it is costing Aba Power at least N3.4 billion for every 20,000 units of one-phase meter and three-phase meter”.

The Committee chairman on Power and Public Utilities explained that the electricity company was invited to the House of Assembly following a petition by three persons purporting to be members of the Abia Electricity Consumers Forum, an unregistered organization, claiming that there were not enough prepaid meters in the territory covered by the utility.

“We are delighted that the 20,000 smart meters being distributed now are from just one firm called Eves Metering, a Chinese firm”, the legislator remarked.

Three other metering firms are supplying at least 20,000 units each, and they include an indigenous one named Kayz Consortium which has moved its machines and equipment to the Geometric Power premises in the Osisioma Industrial Layout to start assembling them there.

Uzodike praised Geometric Power for assisting Kayz to airfreight the meters which increased the costs of providing the smart meters, but noted that “it is a manifestation of the seriousness which the Geometric Power attaches to the smart meter installation project”.

On his part, The Honourable Onye expressed satisfaction that Aba Power has set a target of providing smart meters to 100,000 customers this year alone.

He welcomed the new system of providing a compound of “four flats with four state-of-the-art prepaid meters and a compound of eight flats with eight smart meters, unlike in the past when the entire compound would be saddled with only one meter, thus creating controversy, confusion and disagreements which sometimes resulted in physical fights by the flat occupants.

“The new system makes for transparency and responsible use of electricity”.

Onye also commended Aba Power for providing meters to customers on “a feeder by feeder basis and from end to end because it makes for orderliness, transparency, trust, and peace”.

Customers on the Aba-Owerri Feeder are being given free meters, and the areas under it include Umuode Village, Tonimas Junction, the Old Aba-Owerri Expressway, and the Power Line Area.

There are 31 feeders in the Aba Ring-fenced Area comprising nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State. Four other feeders were fully provided with smart meters during the first phase of the mass metering campaign which ended four months ago.