The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Monday convened a two-day meeting in Lagos with state electricity regulators, power distribution companies, and other key players in the energy sector, as part of efforts to resolve emerging challenges in Nigeria’s transitioning electricity market.
The gathering, which marks the third quarterly power sector meeting for 2025, comes amid mounting disputes between state governments and electricity distribution companies (DisCos) over who has the authority to determine electricity tariffs, a contentious issue since the constitutional amendment granting states more control over electricity regulation.
NERC, via its official social media channels, confirmed that representatives of State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) and State Electricity Regulatory Bureaus (SERBs) were present, alongside other major stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
One of the major themes of the meeting was the call for a national Forum of Regulators, aimed at promoting collaboration and ensuring regulatory consistency across the country. Discussions also focused on structural issues such as metering gaps, account management, and the governance frameworks of Sub-national Companies (SubCos).
“At a roundtable with SERCs/SERBs, discussions focused on challenges in metering, account setup, and SubCo governance structures, alongside calls for a Forum of Regulators to drive ongoing collaboration and strengthen state electricity regulation,” the commission posted online.
Images shared from the meeting showed NERC officials in dialogue with state regulators, reinforcing the commission’s position on the need for unity and strategic coordination during the transition to a decentralized regulatory model.
In a separate statement, NERC highlighted that the third NESI Stakeholders Meeting of 2025 provided a platform for robust deliberations on critical sector reforms, including:
- Asset and liability delineation
- Gradual handover of regulatory powers to state bodies
- Customer band migration frameworks
“This quarterly meeting continues to serve as a vital platform for collaboration, alignment, and progress in shaping the future of Nigeria’s electricity supply industry,” NERC stated.
While the commission has yet to release a detailed communiqué on resolutions reached, the meeting is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
As Nigeria navigates the complex shift toward a more decentralized electricity market, the outcomes of this meeting are expected to play a crucial role in defining future tariff structures, regulatory oversight, and service delivery models across the federation.
