FirstPower Begins Distribution Management Of Power In Anambra
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has granted an operating licence to FirstPower, a subsidiary of the company to distribute power in Anambra.
EEDC presented the licence to the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ANSERC) in Awka on Thursday.
Mr Praveen Chorghade, the Group Managing Director of EEDC while presenting the licence said the exercise was in line with the reforms introduced by the Electricity Act of 2023.
Chorghade who was represented by Dr Ernest Mupwaya said EEDC recognised early that the reforms in the market would depend on readiness, collaboration and willingness to embrace the change.
He commended the support from the Anambra government and its commitment to a strong electricity sector which was evident in the development of the State Electricity Law, the State Electricity Policy and the Integrated Resource Plan.
“FirstPower, our subsidiary responsible for distribution activities within Anambra, is a product of that forward-looking strategy, until today, FirstPower operated under the NERC licence issued to EEDC.
“FirstPower is deliberately structured to complement the state’s industrialisation agenda, urban expansion, agricultural development and small and medium enterprise competitiveness.
“We see in Anambra a transformation template that other jurisdictions experiencing challenges can study and adapt.
“The state has shown that with the right leadership, clear policies, structured engagement and professional regulatory oversight, the objectives of the Electricity Act 2023 can be achieved smoothly and sustainably,” it said
Chorghade thanked Gov. Chukwuma Soludo and the government of Anambra for the vision and leadership that have brought the company to the moment.
Earlier in his speech, Managing Director Firstpower Electricity Distribution Company prof. Okechukwu Okafor, said the licensing was to formalise the company’s presence.
Okafor told stakeholders that EEDC was no longer in charge but an independent body saddled with the responsibility of distributing electricity in Anambra.
“We are going to partner with the industrialists, the state government and the people of Anambra so that they will understand that our presence is geared towards a better solution to electricity.
“We want to change the narrative and target the customers to be happy.
“We need to take the message to them, provided there is goodwill. We hope that by the end of 2027, the billing rights of the customer will be metered for e
asy accountability,” he said.
