Electricity regulators align strategies to tackle market disparities and operational gaps
Orisemeke Benjamin
The Forum of Nigerian Electricity Regulators (FONER) has pledged to establish a more coordinated, transparent, and responsive regulatory framework for Nigeria’s evolving power sector, following high-level deliberations between federal and state authorities in Abuja.
Meeting for its second session, the regulatory body brought together representatives from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and various State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) to align regulatory priorities amid the ongoing decentralization of the nation’s electricity market.
Central to the discussions was an urgent push to improve operational data collection from distribution companies (DisCos). Regulators placed heavy emphasis on securing timely, real-time data at the feeder level to track performance metrics accurately. Particular attention was directed toward Band A supply performance, with officials stressing that robust state-level oversight is critical to protecting electricity consumers and ensuring DisCos deliver on service commitments.
To enforce compliance and eliminate market opacity, the Forum evaluated technological interventions, including the potential deployment of Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled monitoring systems. Integrating digital tools across the electricity value chain is expected to enhance operational visibility, streamline accountability, and provide regulators with accurate metrics for decision-making.
Beyond technical infrastructure, regulators addressed complex structural challenges currently facing the market. Discussions covered sub-distribution company operations, asset delineation, market settlement disputes, and accelerating metering rollouts to end arbitrary billing across state jurisdictions.
A primary outcome of the session was the formal adoption of FONER’s Business Rules. The newly ratified framework structures the Forum’s operations as a collaborative platform for peer learning, knowledge sharing, and regulatory alignment across federal and state bodies.
By unifying NERC and state-level regulators, FONER aims to resolve regulatory overlaps and build a stable, efficient, and sustainable power market tailored to consumer needs nationwide.
