Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission Begins Regulation of Electricity Market Operations

By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission (NSERC) has formally issued Order No. NSERC ORDER/001/...

By Awwal Umar Kontagora

The Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission (NSERC) has formally issued Order No. NSERC ORDER/001/2025, establishing the regulatory framework for electricity market operations in the state.

With the issuance of the Order, effective Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the Commission declared the official conclusion of the transition period for the transfer of regulatory oversight from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to NSERC. This move is in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023 and the Niger State Electricity Law 2024.

The Order prohibits any individual or entity from engaging in regulated electricity activities within Niger State without a valid license or permit issued by NSERC. The Commission emphasized that possession of a license from any other regulatory body does not exempt violators from liability under the new state regulatory regime.

Quoting Section 49(8) of the Niger State Electricity Law, the Commission stated:

“It is not a defense to the offense that such entity holds a license issued by any other agency or body to undertake the relevant regulated activity.”

In its strongest terms, the Commission directed all unlicensed operators to immediately cease regulated activities within the Niger State electricity market and to apply for the appropriate license or permit in line with the law.

Failure to comply, the Order warns, will attract strict penalties — including prosecution, a regulatory fine of not less than ₦10 million, and a daily fine of up to ₦50,000 for each day of continued non-compliance.

Entities uncertain about their regulatory status or needing clarification are urged to contact the Commission via info@nserc.ni.gov.ng.

The Order also affirms the continued applicability of existing national regulatory instruments — including tariff guidelines, grid codes, safety standards, and metering regulations — as binding on all licensed electricity operators in Niger State, pending further directives or amendments by the Commission.