FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Cites National Grid Constraints Amid Anambra Power Outages
The FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company (FpEDC), responsible for power distribution in Anambra State, has urged customers to be patient amid persistent low power supply, attributing the issue to systemic national generation shortfalls rather than operational failures on its part.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Awka by Mr. Izunna Okafor, Head of Communications, FpEDC clarified that distribution companies operate solely at the final stage of the electricity value chain. “Electricity distributed in Anambra is generated elsewhere and transmitted through the national grid before reaching interface stations that supply the state,” the statement explained. It noted that a decline in national generation automatically reduces the allocation to every distribution company.
The company identified several factors behind the nationwide generation crisis. A primary cause is a severe shortage of natural gas supply to thermal power plants, which produce the bulk of Nigeria’s electricity. This was exacerbated by the December explosion on the Escravos-Lagos gas pipeline, which disrupted operations at several gas-fired plants. Additionally, the company highlighted an estimated N6 trillion in debts owed to generation companies, which has impaired their capacity to procure sufficient gas for optimal operations.
The statement also pointed to external pressures, noting that the conflict between Israel/US and Iran has created scarcity and price spikes for petroleum products, further straining Nigeria’s energy sector. “Thermal plants rely heavily on natural gas; the shortage has forced several generating units to shut down or operate below capacity,” Okafor said.
The comments come amid planned customer protests in Anambra over poor supply. FpEDC acknowledged the constitutional right to protest but argued that demonstrations targeting distribution companies would be misdirected, as “the root causes of electricity shortage lie with generation, beyond the control of the distribution company.” The company reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fair billing, regulatory compliance, and improved customer engagement.
The situation underscores the deep interdependence within Nigeria’s power sector. While FpEDC manages local distribution, its performance is directly tied to the volume of power fed into the national grid by generating companies. Analysts note that resolving the chronic supply gap requires addressing upstream challenges, including gas supply logistics, sectoral debts, and infrastructure resilience. For now, FpEDC cautions that significant improvements in Anambra’s power supply remain contingent on a recovery in national electricity generation.
