Plateau gets NERC order to regulate electricity market

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 Plateau State to the Plateau State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Recall that with the EA 2023, the commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight of 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 requests NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations in the state to the State Regulator.

Based on this, NERC said the Government of Plateau State has complied with the conditions precedent in the laws, duly notified NERC, and requested the transfer of regulatory oversight of the intrastate electricity market in Plateau State.

The transfer Order by NERC directed Jos Electricity Distribution Plc to incorporate a subsidiary (JED SubCo) to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Plateau State from JED.

“JED shall complete the incorporation of JED SubCo within 60 days from 12th March 2025. The subcompany shall apply for and obtain licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from NSERC, among other directives.

“All transfers envisaged by this order shall be completed by 12th September 2025,” the NERC said.

With this order, Plateau has joined states like Lagos, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, Niger, Edo, and Oyo to regulate its electricity market.

The state can now generate, transmit, and distribute electricity while issuing licences to investors within the value chain.