FCCPC, NERC seek common power-sector consumer rules

Nigeria’s consumer protection and electricity regulators are pushing for common rules to protect power users as more states set up their own electricity markets.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission made the call at a Thursday stakeholder engagement in Abuja, where officials discussed consumer protection and regulatory cooperation under the Electricity Act 2023.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman Tunji Bello said consumers should receive fair treatment regardless of the state they live in or the regulator handling their complaint. He warned that different standards across states could make the power market harder for consumers and less certain for investors.

Punch and Vanguard reported that the meeting brought together federal regulators, state electricity regulatory commissions and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency.

The Electricity Act 2023 allows states to regulate their own intrastate electricity markets. The regulators said that shift makes cooperation more important, especially on billing, service quality and complaint handling.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard