The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has called for closer collaboration among electricity sector regulators to ensure uniform consumer protection and a stable regulatory environment as more states establish their own electricity markets.
Speaking at a Stakeholder Engagement on Consumer Protection and Regulatory Cooperation in Nigeria’s Electricity Sector in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the implementation of the Electricity Act, 2023 has significantly transformed Nigeria’s power sector by allowing states to create their own electricity regulatory commissions and manage intrastate electricity markets.
According to Bello, the new regulatory structure makes cooperation between the FCCPC, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) more important than ever.
“Our objective is to consult, exchange information, support one another’s lawful actions and ensure consumers receive timely and effective protection. That is the hallmark of mature regulatory governance,” Bello said.
He stressed that protecting electricity consumers should go beyond resolving complaints, adding that regulators must also focus on preventing consumer harm, identifying risks early and building public confidence in the electricity market.
Bello pointed to the FCCPC’s intervention in 2024 over the planned replacement of obsolete Unistar prepaid meters as an example of successful cooperation among regulators, noting that the commission worked with NERC, NEMSA and electricity distribution companies to protect consumers from unfair costs and possible service disruptions.
Also speaking, Anthony Essien, Assistant Director and Head of Consumer Protection at NERC, said the emergence of federal, state and regional electricity markets has made regulatory coordination more critical.
He warned that different regulatory standards across states could create uncertainty for investors and electricity operators if not properly harmonised.
According to Essien, adopting uniform regulatory approaches would strengthen consumer protection, improve oversight across jurisdictions and provide a more predictable business environment.
Meanwhile, Executive Commissioner of the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC), Dr. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, said state electricity regulators would bring regulation closer to consumers while making it easier for investors to engage directly with state governments.
