Joseph Bakare
The Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority, has been handed over oversight regulatory responsibilities as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) formally transfers oversight power to the State.
The Commission said the transfer complied with the Electricity Act 2023.
“In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Abia State from the commission to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority,” the Agency said.
Recall that with the EA 2023, the Commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight on the interstate/international generation, transmission, supply, trading and system operations.
The EA also mandates any state that intends to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to deliver a formal notification of its processes and request NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations in the state to the state regulator.
“Based on this, the Government of Abia State complied with the conditions precedent in the laws, duly notified NERC and requested the transfer of regulatory oversight of the intrastate electricity market in Abia State,” NERC disclosed.
According to NERC, the transfer order directed the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to incorporate a subsidiary to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Abia State from EEDC.
Also, EEDC shall complete the incorporation of EEDC SubCo within 60 days from June 25, 2025.
Among other directives, NERC ordered that the sub-company shall apply for and obtain a licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from ASERA.
“All transfers envisaged by this order shall be completed by December 24, 2025,” the commission stated.
Seven states have taken over electricity regulations in their territories namely, Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Oyo, Edo, and Kogi. Other states, including Lagos, Ogun, Niger, and Plateau, are expected to complete their transitions between June and September.