The Abia State Government has passed the Abia State Electricity Law, 2025, and officially launched the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) to oversee and regulate electricity market operations across the state.

The legislation, enacted in line with powers devolved to states under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electricity Act, 2023, authorises Abia State to independently oversee electricity generation, transmission and distribution within its jurisdiction.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ASERA, Mr. Emeka Onyegbule, announced that the Authority had officially assumed regulatory control of Abia’s electricity market following the issuance of a final transfer order by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

According to Onyegbule, the ASERA board was inaugurated on April 30, 2025, in compliance with the provisions of the newly enacted law.

“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in the exercise of the powers conferred under the Electricity Act 2023, issued an interim Transfer Order no: NERC/2025/058 dated the 24th day of June 2025; formally transferring regulatory oversight of the Electricity Market in Abia State from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to the ASERA.

“The Interim Order elapsed after a six-month transition period, paving the way for the Final Transfer Order from the Commission that completely put the regulatory oversight of the state market under ASERA,” Onyegbule said.

He explained that the transition process was concluded with the issuance of a final regulatory transfer order by NERC on December 24, 2025.

“With this transfer, all activities within the electricity value-chain, including generation, transmission, distribution and trading, fall under the direct oversight and regulation of the Authority effective from the date of the Transfer Order,” he said.

Onyegbule assured electricity licensees and other stakeholders that ASERA would maintain an impartial, transparent, and law-driven regulatory framework.

He stated that the authority would enforce compliance with licence conditions and contractual agreements, while safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring improved service delivery.

“We will ensure that stakeholders discharge contractual obligations to one another while upholding the terms of their licenses, and customers’ voices will be heard and respected, while we will focus on quality service delivery,” he stated.

Also speaking, the State’s Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the passage of the electricity law made it possible for ASERA to emerge as an independent regulator of the state’s electricity market.

Kanu added that the transfer of regulatory authority from NERC to ASERA was consistent with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2023, which empowers states to regulate electricity operations within their territories.

The Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, said the regulatory transition process commenced on March 17, following the signing of the electricity law, describing the development as a major step towards establishing a world-class electricity market in Abia State.

Uwanna noted that the new regulatory framework would stimulate investment, protect electricity consumers, and enhance efficiency in power supply and service delivery across the state. (Leadership)