The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), Nigeria, welcomes the formal transfer of electricity regulatory authority in Abia State from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA).
This transition, enabled by the constitutional decentralisation of electricity regulation and operationalised through the Abia State Electricity Law, marks a significant milestone toward improving power sector governance and service delivery in the state.
FENRAD recognises the potential benefits of decentralised electricity regulation, including faster resolution of consumer complaints, improved regulatory oversight, increased investor confidence, and better alignment of electricity services with Abia State’s development priorities. Bringing regulation closer to the people presents an opportunity to address long-standing challenges in metering, billing, reliability, and consumer protection.
However, FENRAD emphasises that the success of this transition will depend on strong governance principles—particularly transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and fairness—being firmly embedded in ASERA’s operations from the outset.
Accordingly, FENRAD calls on ASERA and the Abia State Government to take the following actions:
1. Ensure Transparency and Accountability
All regulatory decisions—including licensing, tariff setting, metering policies, and enforcement actions—should be guided by clear rules, publicly accessible information, and open processes to prevent abuse, inefficiency, and corruption.
2. Institutionalise Stakeholder Engagement
ASERA should establish regular and structured consultations with electricity consumers, civil society organisations, community representatives, traditional institutions, electricity service providers, and the private sector to promote participatory and responsive regulation.
3. Protect Consumers, Especially Vulnerable Groups
Robust consumer protection mechanisms must be put in place to safeguard low-income households and small businesses from arbitrary tariffs, estimated billing, and poor service quality. Effective complaint resolution systems should be accessible and responsive.
4. Guarantee Fair Tariff and Metering Systems
While tariffs should be cost-reflective to sustain the sector, they must also be fair and socially sensitive. ASERA should prioritise universal access to prepaid meters to eliminate estimated billing and improve trust between consumers and service providers.
5. Uphold Environmental and Social Safeguards
Electricity generation and infrastructure projects in Abia State must comply with environmental laws, climate commitments, and community rights to prevent environmental degradation, health risks, and social conflict.
6. Maintain Regulatory Independence
ASERA must operate independently, free from undue political or corporate influence, to effectively regulate the electricity market in the public interest and ensure a level playing field for all operators.
FENRAD reaffirms its commitment to monitoring developments in the Abia State electricity market and engaging constructively with ASERA, the Abia State Government, and other stakeholders to promote sustainable, inclusive, and rights-based electricity governance.
Signed:
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor
Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), Nigeria
Tel: 08033383708,07062949232
Email info@fenrad.org.ng
fenradnigeria@yahoo.com
www.fenrad.org.ng
