NERC Hands Over Power Sector Oversight To Abia As ASERA Takes Full Regulatory Control
In a landmark development set to reshape Abia State’s electricity landscape, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has formally transferred regulatory authority over the state’s electricity market to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA).
The historic transfer was sealed with the release of the Final Transfer of Regulatory Authority Order, empowering ASERA as the statutory regulator of all electricity sector activities in Abia State, with effect from December 24, 2025.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ASERA, Mr. Emeka Onyegbule, disclosed this during a press conference at the Government House, Umuahia, describing the development as a major milestone in the evolution of Abia’s electricity market.
Mr. Onyegbule recalled that the 2023 constitutional amendment paved the way for states to independently participate in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, adding that NERC subsequently issued an interim order on June 24, 2025, granting states a six-month transition period to establish functional regulatory institutions.
“That transition involved putting the necessary structures in place, appointing the board and equipping the authority to assume responsibilities hitherto handled by NERC,” he said.
“Today marks a very significant moment in the life of ASERA. We have successfully completed the six-month transition, and with effect from today, the mandate to regulate, oversee and manage Abia State’s electricity market rests squarely with ASERA and no longer NERC.”
According to him, the transfer means that all activities across the electricity value chain – generation, transmission, distribution and trading now fall under ASERA’s direct oversight.
Mr. Onyegbule noted that the localization of regulation would bring tangible benefits to electricity consumers, stressing that complaints resolution would now be faster and more responsive.
“By bringing regulation closer to the people, consumers no longer need to wait for NERC in Abuja. ASERA will give electricity users a louder voice, ensure fairness, and strike a balance between effective regulation and quality service delivery,” he explained.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the progress recorded was made possible by the Abia State Electricity Law of 2025, enacted by the state government.
“The state has formally enacted its own Electricity Law, and pursuant to that law, established ASERA as an independent statutory body to regulate the Abia electricity market,” Prince Kanu said.
“In recognition of these steps, NERC issued the transfer order authorising ASERA to exercise full regulatory oversight. This represents one of the signature achievements of the present administration in transforming Abia’s electricity ecosystem.”
On his part, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, described the establishment of the state electricity market as critical to the successful implementation of Abia’s 25-Year Development Plan and the acceleration of industrialisation.
Tracing the journey to March 17, 2025, when Governor Alex Chioma Otti assented to the Abia State Electricity Law, Engr. Monday emphasized that electricity remains central to economic growth, investment attraction and improved service delivery.
He added that the new electricity market has been designed to be world-class, investor-friendly and consumer-focused, revealing that ASERA has also been empowered to issue metering and billing licences to encourage private sector participation in meter deployment.
According to him, improved metering will promote transparency and fairness by ensuring that consumers pay strictly for the electricity they consume.
With the transfer of regulatory authority now completed, Abia State is poised to enter a new era of locally driven, accountable and growth-oriented electricity governance.
