By BONIFACE AKARAH

Civil society organisation, the Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), has called for transparency, consumer protection and inclusive governance as Abia State formally takes over electricity regulation from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), warning that the success of the transition will depend on how well the interests of electricity consumers are protected.

FENRAD made the call in a statement issued in Umuahia on Friday, December 26, 2025, following the transfer of regulatory authority to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) under the Abia State Electricity Law.

The group described the development as a major milestone in the decentralisation of electricity regulation, saying it has the potential to improve service delivery and strengthen power sector governance in the state.

“This transition… marks a significant milestone toward improving power sector governance and service delivery in the state,” FENRAD said.

According to the organisation, decentralised electricity regulation could lead to faster resolution of consumer complaints, stronger regulatory oversight, increased investor confidence and better alignment of electricity services with Abia State’s development priorities.

“Bringing regulation closer to the people presents an opportunity to address long-standing challenges in metering, billing, reliability, and consumer protection,” it stated.

However, FENRAD cautioned that these gains would only be realised if ASERA embeds strong governance principles in its operations from the outset.

“The success of this transition will depend on strong governance principles—particularly transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and fairness—being firmly embedded in ASERA’s operations,” the group warned.

FENRAD urged the new regulator and the Abia State Government to ensure transparency and accountability in all regulatory decisions, including licensing, tariff setting, metering policies and enforcement actions.

“All regulatory decisions… should be guided by clear rules, publicly accessible information, and open processes to prevent abuse, inefficiency, and corruption,” it said.

The organisation also called for structured stakeholder engagement, urging ASERA to maintain regular consultations with electricity consumers, civil society groups, community representatives, traditional institutions and service providers.

“ASERA should establish regular and structured consultations… to promote participatory and responsive regulation,” FENRAD said.

On consumer welfare, the group stressed the need for strong protection mechanisms, particularly for low-income households and small businesses.

“Robust consumer protection mechanisms must be put in place to safeguard low-income households and small businesses from arbitrary tariffs, estimated billing, and poor service quality,” it said.

FENRAD further called for fair and socially sensitive tariffs, while urging ASERA to prioritise universal access to prepaid meters to eliminate estimated billing and improve trust between consumers and electricity providers.

While addressing environmental concerns, the organisation said electricity projects in the state must comply with environmental laws and community rights to avoid degradation, health risks and social conflict.

“Electricity generation and infrastructure projects in Abia State must comply with environmental laws, climate commitments, and community rights,” it said.

The group also stressed the need for ASERA to operate independently of political or corporate interference.

“ASERA must operate independently, free from undue political or corporate influence, to effectively regulate the electricity market in the public interest,” the statement said.

FENRAD, signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring developments in Abia’s electricity market and engaging constructively with the state government, ASERA and other stakeholders to promote sustainable and rights-based electricity governance.