By Jacinta Hycenth, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that it issued thirty-seven new orders to guide activities of licensees and twenty-nine licences, permits and certifications in the second quarter of 2025.
According to NERC’s 2025 quarterly report, the Electricity Act (EA) 2023, section 34(2)(d), empowers the commission to licence and regulate persons engaged in the generation, transmission, system operation, distribution, supply and trading of electricity in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Additionally, the commission regulates market entry or exit by sector players and issues regulations, guidelines and orders that guide the operations of licensees, permit holders and registered operators.
The order issued by the commission in Q2 of 2025 include:
NERC/2025/031,033-NERC/2025/042 — April 2025 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the DisCos;
NERC/2025/043 – Order on Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) for the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc (TCN); NERC/2025/045 NERC/2025/055 — May 2025 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the DisCos;
NERC/2025/056 – Order on Third-Party Investments in the Construction of the Switchyard Bay Extension at Kainji Hydropower Plant and Securitisation of Funds for the SCADA Additional Scope.
Others included: NERC/2025/057 — Order on the Mandatory Integration of Grid-connected Generating units into the SCADA/EMS for Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI); NERC/2025/058 (EEDC) — Transfer of Regulatory Oversight of the Electricity Market in Abia State from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC); NERC/2025/059-NERC/2025/069 — June 2025 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the DisCos.
The following are breakdown of 29 licences and permits, and certification issued: One (1) off-grid generation licence with a nameplate capacity of 12.8MW; Two (2) on-grid generation licences with a total capacity of 480MW;
Three (3) new electricity trading licences;
One (1) Independent Electricity Distribution Network (IEDN) licence; One (1) licence for embedded generation; One (1) captive generation permit with a gross capacity of 20.8MW; Six (6) permits for mini grids; Seven (7) certifications for Meter Service Providers and seven (7) permits for Meter Asset Providers.
Under Hearings and Public Consultation – the Commission conducted two (2) hearings during the second quarter of 2025. The hearings were in respect of the following: Petition filed by Prism Steel Mills Limited challenging the award of the competition transition charge in favour of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Plc; and Green Power Distribution Nigeria Limited in respect of their application for an independent electricity distribution licence.
According to the report under review, hearings are proceedings pursuant to the provisions of the Act through which the commission seeks additional information on petitions or any matter filed before it by market participants or consumers in order to make a final decision.
Furthermore, the Business Rules of the Commission- NERC-R-0306 allow the commission to undertake public consultations through which the commission aggregates input/opinions on licensee applications and regulatory instruments being drafted or reviewed.
Compliance and Enforcement: The Commission issued thirteen (13) Rectification Directives (RD) and twenty-six (26) Notices of Intention to Commence Enforcement (NICE) to licensees for different breaches/defaults during the quarter.
