Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has reinforced its zero-tolerance stance on regulatory violations in the power sector, launching a fresh review of compliance performance, metering progress and market obligations across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI.
The move came as the Commission convened its latest Compliance Peer Review Meeting in Abuja, bringing together regulatory and compliance officers from generation companies, distribution companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, the Nigerian Independent System Operator, NISO, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, NBET, and other key industry stakeholders.
Chairing the meeting, NERC Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Mr. Dafe Akpeneye, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to enforcing regulatory standards and ensuring strict adherence to industry rules.
The two-day meeting forms part of NERC’s routine compliance monitoring framework aimed at strengthening accountability, improving operational performance and ensuring that licensees meet their statutory obligations.
A major focus of the session was the review of compliance scorecards of operators across the electricity value chain, with regulators assessing adherence to market rules and regulatory directives.
Participants also examined performance reviews and peer comparisons among regulatory and compliance officers as part of efforts to encourage continuous improvement and institutional effectiveness.
Another key agenda item was the progress of metering across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, amid ongoing efforts to close Nigeria’s metering gap and improve billing transparency for electricity consumers.
The Commission also reviewed the status of health and safety report submissions by licensees from December to date, emphasizing the importance of compliance with safety standards in electricity operations.
In a significant development, discussions explored the integration of Artificial Intelligence, AI, into regulatory and operational compliance processes, reflecting growing interest in leveraging technology to strengthen oversight and improve efficiency within the sector.
The meeting further examined regulatory compliance requirements relating to market obligations as well as reporting responsibilities of on-grid licensees to the Nigerian Independent System Operator.
According to NERC, the Compliance Peer Review Meetings remain a critical platform for monitoring industry performance, identifying compliance gaps and promoting best practices across the power sector.
The Commission stated that it remains committed to maintaining high regulatory standards, enhancing accountability and ensuring that all market participants operate in line with established rules to support a more reliable and efficient electricity supply industry.
