Residents and businesses across several communities in Anambra State should prepare for a temporary disruption in electricity supply this weekend. FirstPower Electricity Distribution Limited has officially announced a planned power outage scheduled for Sunday, 7 December 2025.
Details of the Planned Service Interruption
The utility company stated that the outage will last for three hours, specifically from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. This necessary measure is to facilitate a major infrastructure upgrade by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). Engineers will be working to install a new TR13 60MVA transformer and reconfigure outgoing feeders at the crucial Onitsha Transmission Station.
To ensure the safety of the technical crew, the operation will require the temporary de-energizing of several key transformers, including the MOBITRA 40MVA and 45MVA units, as well as the 1T1 100MVA 132/33KV transformer.
Areas to be Affected by the Blackout
The outage will impact customers served by a specific list of 33KV and 11KV feeders. The affected 33KV feeders are:
- Army Barracks
- Awada
- Obosi
- Umunya
- Juddy Bolema
- Nnewi Oba
- Nnewi Industrial
- Ossomala
- 3-3
- Niccus
- Ogidi
The Nwaziki 11KV and Woliwo 11KV feeders will also be switched off during this period. FirstPower has explicitly stated that all customers connected to these feeders will experience a loss of power for the duration of the exercise.
Commitment to Improved Service Reliability
In a statement released on Friday, 5 December 2025, the company expressed regret for the inconvenience while appealing for public understanding. "We sincerely regret the inconvenience this may cause our esteemed customers and count on their understanding as this exercise is geared towards improving service reliability," the statement read. It further assured customers of FirstPower's commitment to providing satisfactory services in the long run.
This planned maintenance is part of a broader push to enhance the capacity and reliability of electricity distribution in Anambra State. The development comes shortly after a significant regulatory milestone for FirstPower.
On 28 November 2025, the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC) issued an interim operating licence to the company. Presenting the licence in Awka, the Commission's Chairman and CEO, Professor Frank Okafor, emphasized that reliable power is fundamental to making Anambra a prime destination for investment and development.
"With the issuance of this one-year interim licence to FirstPower, the commission expects measurable improvements in electricity supply. ASERC will maintain strict oversight to ensure that operators meet their targets," Okafor stated. He noted that this action followed the enactment of the Anambra State Electricity Law and the transfer of regulatory oversight from the national body, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The licensing marks a key transition in the state's electricity market, as highlighted by representatives from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). Meanwhile, the Managing Director of FirstPower, Okechukwu Okafor, affirmed that the licence establishes the company as an independent distributor committed to collaborating with the state government and residents to deliver better electricity solutions.
