Imo Plunged into Darkness: EEDC Cites Lack of Control Over Prolonged Power Outage

Infostride News reported that the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has officially declared that the ongoing power outage, stemming from the aftermath of a strike action initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), is a circumstance beyond its control. This announcement came through a statement released by Mr. Emeka Ezeh, the Head of Corporate Communication for EEDC, based in Owerri on a Thursday.

The situation unfolded when organized labor in Imo, on November 1, orchestrated the closure of the Egbu Transmission Station, a critical source supplying electricity to the state. Consequently, this action has resulted in the transmission station being devoid of the energy required to cater to its customers, plunging Imo State into a complete blackout.

Emeka Ezeh, shedding light on the predicament, clarified that with the Egbu Transmission Station shut down—being EEDC’s power source—there exists no viable means for the company to acquire electricity for distribution to its customers in Imo.

He articulated, “We can only distribute the power that we receive from stations operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and in this case, the station catering for our customers in Imo has been shut down by the Labour Union. As a Distribution Company, our primary source of supply is from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Stations, and once there is a disruption in the chain, we won’t be able to deliver service to our customers.”

Expressing sympathy for the residents of Imo affected by the power outage, Ezeh expressed optimism that the conflicting parties would find a resolution, restoring normalcy to the state. Moreover, he revealed the substantial financial impact on the company, stating that EEDC has incurred significant losses in revenue since November 1, the day the electricity transmission station ceased operations.

Ezeh assured consumers that EEDC would not bill them for the period during which they were without power supply, emphasizing that “the company does not bill for service not rendered.” However, he clarified that the electricity bills for November would need to be settled by consumers since they reflect the energy consumption for the preceding month, specifically October.

“The impact of the power outage currently experienced will reflect on the December bill, which will be for energy consumed in the month of November.