The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to respect and collaborate with state electricity regulators’ in the collective drive to improve power generation and distribution in the country.
The commission’s Vice Chairman, Mr. Musiliu Oseni, gave this charge at the commission’s quarterly stakeholders meeting, which ended on Tuesday in Lagos.
Specifically, Oseni urged the Discos to strengthen their relationships with state regulators, stressing the need for open communication, transparency, accountability, and mutual respect.
He said: “Discos must do better with state regulators—first impressions last. Be open about your challenges so they can work with you. Above all, treat state regulators with the respect they deserve. This is a timely reminder that collaboration is essential to building a fair, resilient, and sustainable electricity market for Nigeria.
- Advertisement -
The industry chief also urged State Electricity Regulatory Commissions/Bureaus to prioritise growing their state electricity markets rather than relying on Federal Government subsidies.
The convening of all the power sector value-chains stakeholders’ meeting by the NERC was partly aimed at resolving the lingering faceoff between the DisCos and state regulators over the fixing of electricity tariffs
It would be recalled that over the past few weeks, the DisCos had been opposing state electricity regulatory commissions on matters of electricity tariffs, an ugly development that may undermine efforts to improve power supply nationwide in the immediate or near term.
But then, the Energy commissioners of state governments, under their umbrella body, the Forum of Commissioners for Power and Energy in Nigeria, had insisted that the Electricity Act 2023 authorized state governments to regulate their power markets.
