Following the passage of the Abia State Electricity Law by the Abia State House of Assembly and its subsequent assent by Governor Alex Otti, Abia State has commenced full regulation of its electricity sector.
With the new law in place, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), acting under the powers conferred by the Electricity Act 2023, issued an Interim Transfer Order dated June 24, 2025, transferring regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Abia State from NERC to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA). The interim order provided for a six-month transition period, which paved the way for the issuance of a Final Transfer Order that fully vests regulatory authority in ASERA.
It would be recalled that Governor Otti, on April 30, 2025, in line with the provisions of the law, inaugurated the Board of ASERA, made up of three Executive Directors and two Non-Executive Directors, including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Speaking to journalists in Umuahia, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ASERA, Chief Emeka Onyegbule, confirmed that NERC on December 24, 2025, issued the Final Transfer of Regulatory Authority Order to ASERA, formally designating it as the statutory regulator of electricity sector activities within Abia State.
Chief Onyegbule explained that with the final transfer, all activities across the electricity value chain—generation, transmission, distribution and trading—now fall under the direct oversight and regulation of ASERA.
He stated that the Authority will ensure stakeholders discharge their contractual obligations to one another in line with the terms of their licenses, while also guaranteeing that consumers’ voices are heard and respected, with emphasis on quality service delivery.
According to him, in line with the law, ASERA’s Board comprises three Executive Directors and two Non-Executive Directors, including the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer. He recalled that NERC, exercising its powers under the Electricity Act 2023, issued Interim Transfer Order No: NERC/2025/058 on June 24, 2025, transferring regulatory oversight of the Abia electricity market to ASERA. The interim order elapsed after the six-month transition period, leading to the issuance of the Final Transfer Order on December 24, 2025, which fully placed regulatory control of the state’s electricity market under ASERA.
He added that the Authority will be guided by existing legal provisions and regulatory instruments to ensure a balanced regulatory environment through fair, objective and transparent processes, while promoting compliance among licensees and protecting consumer interests.
Earlier, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed that following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, Abia State domesticated the law through the Abia State Electricity Law 2025.
He said this enabled the establishment of ASERA as an independent body charged with regulating the Abia electricity market, prompting NERC to issue the interim transfer order authorising ASERA to take over regulatory oversight.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engineer Ikechukwu Monday, described metering as a major issue in the sector, noting that consumers want to pay only for the electricity they actually use. He explained that the law prohibits arbitrary billing and makes provisions for the availability of meters, including the issuance of metering licenses.
According to him, the provision will encourage investment in the power sector, improve meter availability and ensure that consumers pay strictly for what they consume.
