EEDC announces 3-day blackout

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, has announced a 3-day power blackout as it commences more efforts to upgrade infrastructures in Awka, Anambra State.

This is coming less than 24 hours after the upgrade of its Ebeano Tunnel Injection Substation from a 7.5MVA capacity to 15MVA.

The recent upgrade involves its Agu-Awka Injection Substation, which would now improve from 7.5MVA capacity to 15MVA.

The EEDC said it had already taken delivery of a brand new 15MVA power transformer which it ordered from overseas.

These upgrades are to match the rapid increase in load demand by customers, as well as significantly improve the quality of power supply to the affected areas.

The Head of Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who made this known to newsmen in Enugu on Friday, said that the upgrade of Agu-Awka Injection Substation was planned to last for three days, and will commence today, Saturday, April 6, 2019.

Ezeh further said that as a result of this development, “electricity customers served by the substation will be out of supply during the period of the upgrade. He mentioned the areas to be affected as: Agu-Awka GRA, UniZik, parts of Nkwele Awka, Amenyi Awka, CBN, Juhel, Millennium Industry and Nodu Okpuno.”

Ezeh added that “these capital intensive upgrades embarked on by EEDC are in addition to the ongoing construction of a 1 x 7.5MVA Injection Substation at ABS, Awka.

“The project which is near completion is expected to improve electricity supply to Okpuno, Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu, Urum, Amanuke and the university communities.”

“EEDC therefore appeals to its customers to make alternative power supply arrangements during the period of the upgrade and sincerely apologise for the inconveniences this will cause her esteemed customers in Awka. “It is all geared towards improving the quality of service we offer to our customers”, Ezeh said.

“Customers are also encouraged to reciprocate this gesture by paying their electricity bills and desist from acts capable of undermining the effort of the company in providing quality and reliable service to its esteemed customers,” he said.

Just last year, EEDC delivered major network enhancement projects ranging from deloading of feeders, deployment of relief transformers and replacement of failed transformers. In Enugu State, EEDC completed and commissioned the 1 x 7.5 MVA Nike Lake Injection Substation at Nike, which greatly improved electricity supply to the entire Nike area and parts of Abakpa.

Also last year, EEDC constructed three feeders to improve supply to her customers in Nsukka, they are the UNN 33KV, Orba 33KV and Wilson 11KV feeders. This has significantly improved power supply to the area and resulted to the deloading of Eha Amufu 33KV line, with resultant improved supply in Ehamufu, Ikem and some communities in Ebonyi State.

“These efforts underscore our organisation’s commitment to strategically addressing the power supply needs of our customers”, Ezeh said.