FirstPower gives reason for poor power supply in Anambra
SKAiF NewsNG SNN
The Management of FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited, FPEDL, has clarified the reason for poor power supply in Anambra State, attributing it to a drop in national power generation, while insisting that it is not peculiar to Anambra State, but a nationwide thing.
The company in a press statement by its head of communications, Mr Izunna Okafor pleaded for understanding,saying that it understands the inconveniences families are going through.
He said: “We appreciate the concerns of our customers across Anambra State regarding the recent significant drop in electricity supply being experienced in various communities.
“We fully understand the inconvenience and disruption that irregular electricity supply causes to households, businesses, institutions, and industries.
“As a company responsible for electricity distribution in the state, we believe it is important to further provide transparent and factual explanations to the public about the current situation.”
He listed some of the factors causing the drop was because; national power generation recently dropped significantly, whe power allocation to Anambra has dropped by more than 50%, making it expedient for load management (rationing), so as to reach all.
Okafor said: “FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. wishes to clearly state that the current drop in electricity supply is not peculiar to Anambra State, nor is it caused by any operational failure on the part of the company.
“FirstPower operates only in the third and last (Distribution) segment of this chain, meaning that the company does not generate electricity and does not control the volume of electricity transmitted/sent to the state.”
On estimated billing it said: “FirstPower acknowledges that metering remains a major concern for customers, particularly those currently on estimated billing. Currently, meter penetration in Anambra stands at about 40–45%. This leaves a gap of roughly 55–60% of customers yet to be metered in the state.
“To address metering gaps nationally and eliminate estimated billing, the Federal Government floated the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide prepaid meters free of charge to customers through DisCos.
“Under this Federal Government metering programme, 13,000 meters were allocated to Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), the southeast regional distribution network. From that allocation, 5,960 meters were received by FirstPower and distributed to customers across the state, specifically those within Awka, Obosi, and Onitsha feeders.”
