Abstract
Nigeria's energy sector has been facing enormous challenges. The energy infrastructure is
inadequate and continually strained by increasing energy demand vis-à-vis a rapidly growing
population and expanding industrial activities. Consequently, frequent outages and epileptic
power supply have become the rule rather than the exception. This has forced citizens to seek
alternative power supply such as power generating sets, with the attendant environmental
consequences. Under the circumstance, the deployment of effective Demand Response (DR)
programs that would manage peak load and stabilize the grid becomes expedient. This paper
examines the status and prospects of DR programs in managing the energy sector in Anambra
State. It investigated whether demand response programs have been deployed and the potential
benefits they hold for energy efficiency in the State. The study was framed within the
Innovation Diffusion Theory and relied on both primary and secondary sources to generate
data. Specifically, data were sourced from interviews with electricity consumers and staff of the
distribution company, field observations, and documentary evidence. The study found no
evidence of active DR program deployment in Anambra State but revealed strong prospects for
their adoption in enhancing energy efficiency. It therefore recommends sensitization campaigns,
regulatory support, and pilot projects to facilitate the eventual deployment of DR programs while
efforts to improve energy infrastructure continue.