The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr. Tunji Bello, has called for deeper collaboration among electricity regulators, stressing that stronger institutional partnerships are critical to safeguarding consumers and ensuring the success of Nigeria’s ongoing power sector reforms.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on consumer protection and regulatory cooperation in Nigeria’s electricity sector held at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Bello said the implementation of the Electricity Act, 2023 has ushered in a new regulatory landscape that requires seamless cooperation between federal and state regulatory institutions.

The meeting brought together officials of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) to strengthen collaboration on consumer protection across the electricity value chain.

According to Bello, while the Electricity Act has created opportunities for innovation, investment and state-level regulation of electricity markets, consumers expect one thing above all else—fair treatment and effective protection—regardless of which regulator has jurisdiction.

“Consumers experience electricity as one system. When supply is interrupted or a bill appears incorrect, they are not concerned about which regulator has jurisdiction. They simply expect protection. Ensuring that our institutions work seamlessly together is our responsibility, not theirs,” he said.

Bello noted that each regulatory agency plays a distinct but complementary role, with NERC providing sector-specific regulation, NEMSA enforcing technical standards, SERCs overseeing intrastate electricity markets, and the FCCPC bringing its cross-sector consumer protection mandate.

He emphasized that the most effective regulatory outcomes are achieved through cooperation rather than institutional rivalry, adding that the Commission’s experience over the past year has demonstrated the value of early engagement, information sharing and coordinated action.

Highlighting one of the FCCPC’s major interventions, Bello recalled the controversy surrounding the planned replacement of obsolete Unistar prepaid meters by one of the electricity distribution companies shortly after he assumed office in July 2024.

He said widespread public concern had emerged over fears that consumers would be forced to bear the cost of replacing obsolete meters or be subjected to estimated billing and electricity supply interruptions during the exercise.

To prevent consumer harm, the FCCPC convened a meeting involving NERC, NEMSA and all electricity distribution companies. The engagement resulted in the suspension of the replacement programme pending compliance with regulatory requirements, a decision jointly supported by NERC and NEMSA.

The intervention, he explained, ultimately ensured the implementation of NERC’s Order on the Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-user Customer Meters, which guarantees that consumers will not pay for replacing obsolete meters, will not suffer electricity disconnections during the replacement process, and will not be subjected to estimated billing due to implementation delays.

Bello described the outcome as a clear demonstration of how regulatory cooperation can prevent disputes before they escalate and reinforce public confidence in the electricity sector.

He argued that consumer protection should not be measured solely by the number of complaints resolved but also by the number of disputes prevented through proactive regulatory action.

“Preventing consumer harm is one of the highest aspirations of any regulatory system,” he said, adding that institutions must respect each other’s statutory mandates while working collectively to protect consumers.

Looking ahead, Bello said cooperation between the FCCPC and the growing number of State Electricity Regulatory Commissions would become even more important as more states assume responsibility for regulating their electricity markets under the Electricity Act, 2023.

He urged electricity distribution companies and other market participants to comply promptly with regulatory obligations, resolve consumer complaints fairly and operate transparently to strengthen confidence in the sector.

The FCCPC chief also encouraged electricity consumers to utilize established complaint resolution mechanisms, engage regulators responsibly and fulfil their obligations while exercising their rights.

Please follow and like us: