FCCPC Seeks United Regulatory Front to Protect Electricity Consumers

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has urged regulators in Nigeria’s electricity industry to deepen cooperation as the country’s power sector undergoes major reforms driven by the Electricity Act 2023.

The commission said stronger coordination between federal and state regulatory bodies was essential to guarantee consistent consumer protection and create a stable regulatory environment for investors and operators.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on consumer protection and regulatory cooperation in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said the Electricity Act had transformed the industry by allowing states to establish electricity regulatory commissions and supervise electricity markets within their jurisdictions.

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He explained that the changing structure of the sector made collaboration between the FCCPC, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions increasingly important.

According to Bello, the various agencies have different legal responsibilities but share a common objective of ensuring that electricity consumers are adequately protected.

“Sector regulators bring deep technical expertise, while the FCCPC provides economy-wide experience in consumer protection and competition.

“Our objective is to consult, exchange information, support one another’s lawful actions and ensure consumers receive timely and effective protection. That is the hallmark of mature regulatory governance.”

Bello added that protecting consumers should not be limited to resolving disputes after they occur but should also involve preventing problems, detecting risks early and maintaining public confidence in the electricity market.

He pointed to the FCCPC’s intervention in 2024 over plans to replace obsolete Unistar prepaid meters as a practical example of successful regulatory cooperation. Following concerns that customers might be forced to pay for replacement meters or suffer estimated billing and supply interruptions, the commission brought together NERC, NEMSA and electricity distribution companies to address the issue.

According to him, the commission’s action complemented NERC’s statutory role and strengthened the existing regulatory framework instead of creating overlapping responsibilities.

Also addressing participants, NERC’s Assistant Director and Head of Consumer Protection, Anthony Essien, said the emergence of federal, state and regional electricity markets had made regulatory alignment more important than ever.

He warned that although decentralised regulation would bring oversight closer to electricity consumers, varying standards across different states could discourage investment and create uncertainty for market participants.

Essien said adopting harmonised regulatory practices would improve consumer protection, encourage coordinated supervision across jurisdictions and provide greater certainty for businesses operating in the country’s expanding electricity market.

Executive Commissioner of the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC), Dr Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, also said state regulators would make it easier for consumers to engage with regulatory authorities while strengthening relationships between investors and state governments.