Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission takes over Enugu electricity market

The Enugu State electricity market has officially been placed under the regulatory oversight of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ESERC) as from May 1, 2024, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). This transfer of authority was made possible by the Enugu State Electricity Law, which was signed by Governor Peter Mbah, and the establishment of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

This marks the very first time that regulatory powers have been shifted from the NERC to a state government electricity regulator. NERC announced this transfer through an order signed by the Commission’s Chairman, Sanusi Garba, and the Commissioner for Legal, Licensing, and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.

This transfer is a result of amendments to the 1999 Constitution and the Electricity Act 2023, which granted states the power to manage and regulate their electricity markets. It is worth noting that this is the first time NERC has delegated regulatory authority to a state electricity regulatory agency. The Enugu State Electricity Bill 2023, initiated by the Mbah Administration and signed into law in September of the same year, played a significant role in this transfer.

Additionally, the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ESERC), led by Chijioke Okonkwo as the Chairman/CEO, was established in March 2024. As per the Electricity Act 2023, NERC is required to provide a draft order outlining the plan and timeline for the transition of regulatory responsibilities to the State Regulator within 45 days of receiving formal notification of the law’s enactment. This transition must be completed within 6 months from the date of the formal notification.