…to brainstorm on the way forward.
by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Plateau State Electricity Regulatory Commission on Thursday held a “budget interaction” with stakeholders during which it revealed that, the establishment of the Commission was “to regulate the activities of major players in the electricity sector within the State, and to create an enabling environment for investors to participate in electricity generation, distribution and other areas of the power value chain.”
Commissioner of the Commission for Plateau State, Mark Dalek, disclosed this to newsmen shortly after budget interaction (Thursday) at the Ministry of Budget State Secretariat Jos, when he added that, the establishment of the Commission was in line with the decentralization of Nigeria’s electricity sector under the Electricity Act 2023, which allows states to regulate electricity markets within their respective jurisdictions.
He disclosed that the Commission is a new institution facing with the task of building an effective regulatory framework capable of responding to the challenges of the emerging electricity market, adding that the transformation represented a significant departure from the era when electricity was largely treated as a government-controlled social service.
According to him, the evolution, from the former NEPA/Power Holding Company of Nigeria structure to the present decentralised electricity market, was driven by the need to tackle inefficiencies associated with excessive centralisation, stressing that deregulation had now opened opportunities for private investors to participate in the sector.
He explained that, the Plateau State Government has intensified plans to expand electricity access across the state, especially to underserved rural communities, as the Governor Mutfwang administration moves to leverage the newly decentralised electricity market to attract investment and improve power supply in 2027.
The Commissioner further pointed out that, Plateau State was endowed with considerable potential for renewable energy and hydroelectric power, stressing that investors with the required resources and suitable locations could generate and distribute electricity, while earning legitimate returns on their investments.
He stated that, the Commission’s projection for 2027 was to witness a significant improvement in electricity supply across the State through a combination of conventional power sources and renewable-energy interventions designed to complement the national grid.
While identifying the underserved communities, which are areas in the southern part of the state, as places where alternative energy solutions could make a substantial difference, he stressed that renewable-energy projects would help bridge existing gaps in electricity distribution.
According to him, the interventions by the Rural Electrification Agency and other stakeholders were renewable-energy initiatives already being deployed in parts of the state, saying, “Such projects would complement the national grid and extend electricity access to communities that have remained inadequately served.”
He disclosed further that, Governor Mutfwang administration’s expected expansion of power access would have significant economic implications, especially for rural communities where inadequate electricity has constrained businesses and contributed to migration, from villages to urban centres.
He maintained that with reliable electricity, rural residents would have greater opportunities to establish and operate viable businesses within their communities, instead of relocating to cities in search of better economic opportunities.
According to him, the Commission was given its mandate to build around protecting two critical interests: the electricity consumer and the investor, insisting that both must be adequately protected for the electricity market to succeed.
He explained that, while investors were expected to obtain reasonable returns on their investments, the Commission would equally ensure that consumers were protected against exploitation, unjustified charges and other practices capable of undermining public confidence in the sector.
Mr. Dalek further clarified the leadership structure of the Commission, stating that although, it has a non-executive chairman, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer serves as the Accounting Officer responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Commission.
He identified Ms. Kaneng Gwom as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, noting, however, that she was unavoidably absent during the 2027 budget interaction.