The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has sent a strong warning to electricity companies and other industry players, declaring that it will no longer tolerate violations of regulations within Nigeria’s power sector.
The commission announced that licence holders who fail to comply with industry rules will face closer scrutiny and stricter enforcement measures as it moves to strengthen oversight across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
NERC made this known during a two-day Compliance Peer Review Meeting held in Abuja, where regulators and key stakeholders gathered to discuss ways of improving accountability, transparency and operational efficiency within the power sector.
The meeting was chaired by NERC Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, and brought together representatives from electricity generation companies, distribution companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), and other major players in the industry.
A major highlight of the meeting was NERC’s renewed commitment to enforcing compliance with industry regulations and market obligations.
The commission stressed that all licensees must adhere to reporting requirements and operational standards, especially those connected to the national grid, warning that non-compliance could attract regulatory sanctions.
In a move aimed at modernising oversight, NERC also revealed plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to improve monitoring and compliance across the electricity sector.
According to discussions at the meeting, AI technology could help regulators track performance, detect irregularities, improve forecasting and strengthen enforcement actions more efficiently than traditional methods.
Officials noted that the adoption of AI could significantly improve the speed and accuracy of compliance assessments while helping regulators identify potential issues before they escalate.
Participants at the meeting also reviewed compliance scorecards of electricity companies, examined health and safety reports submitted over recent months, assessed progress in metering initiatives and discussed broader regulatory obligations within the electricity market.
NERC said the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to improve accountability and ensure that operators across the electricity value chain meet their responsibilities to consumers and the industry.
The commission maintained that stronger monitoring systems, combined with stricter enforcement and emerging technologies, would help create a more reliable and transparent electricity market for Nigerians.
As the power sector continues to face challenges ranging from poor supply to infrastructure constraints, NERC believes enhanced compliance and technology-driven oversight will play a crucial role in improving service delivery and restoring confidence in the industry.
Source: NERC
