Electricity: Enugu DisCo vows to end estimated billing

Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL), a subsidiary of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, has vowed to eliminate estimated billing with the roll-out of comprehensive metering for all customers in Enugu State.

The Managing Director of the company, Ernest Mupwaya, made this known on Wednesday during a stakeholders engagement in Enugu to outline the company’s vision for reliable power supply and customer-centric services.

Mupwaya, who introduced MainPower’s strategic initiatives that are aimed at transforming electricity distribution and enhancing customer service in Enugu State, said the company will commence metering next week with free installations prioritised in high-loss areas.

He emphasised that accurate and transparent billing will allow customers to pay only for what they consume, promoting fairness and encouraging energy conservation.

“A critical component of MainPower’s service improvement plan is the rollout of a comprehensive billing programme to eliminate estimated billing,” Mupwaya stated.

He stated that MainPower aims to meter all customers by 2027.

“This initiative is expected to foster greater customer trust while improving MainPower’s revenue assurance. MainPower, a newly formed subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has been established to address the specific power needs of Enugu residents, ensuring reliable, transparent, and efficient energy services.

“The company’s creation aligns with Nigeria’s recent regulatory reforms focused on creating a customer-centred power distribution system that supports innovation and customer engagement to drive improvements in reliability and service,” he said.

He emphasised the company’s commitment to achieving 24/7 electricity supply across Enugu State over the next three years.

“This ambitious goal will be reached through a phased approach, beginning with urban and commercial hubs and expanding to all residential customers.

“Supporting this vision requires substantial infrastructure upgrades and partnerships with independent power producers (IPPs) to secure the necessary additional power sources. MainPower’s mission aligns with broader regulatory reforms aimed at sustainable and efficient power distribution,” he added.

In a remark, Chinedum Ukabara from the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission, EERC, affirmed EERC’s commitment to fair and transparent regulation to attract investment into the state’s power sector.

He urged customers to support those improvements by staying up-to-date with bill payments, as customer cooperation is essential to sustaining the benefits of the reforms.