- The Abia State Government has introduced the Abia State Electricity Bill to establish a competitive and efficient power market, including creating a regulatory authority and electricity fund.
- The state aims to enhance infrastructure, promote renewable energy, and ensure public participation through a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, 2024.
The Abia State Government is committed to addressing its power sector’s structural challenges and service gaps. This was revealed by the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, during a press briefing following the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia on Monday, December 16, 2024.
Mr. Monday highlighted that the state government has designed the Abia State Electricity Bill, with professional support, to transform the power sector. The bill aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and is a significant step towards establishing a competitive and efficient electricity market within the state.
Key features of the bill include establishing the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority, the Rural Electrification Agency, and the Abia State Electricity Fund. The regulatory authority will oversee and regulate all state electricity market sectors.
The fund will improve infrastructure, provide access to electricity for underserved communities, and support vulnerable residents who may struggle to afford the market-driven tariffs.
“The fund will ensure that better infrastructure is provided and that people who cannot afford electricity will receive government support,” Mr Monday explained. The state aims to create a market where efficient players can thrive, thus promoting industrialisation and socioeconomic growth.
The bill also emphasises the integration of renewable energy into the state’s power sector. It contains provisions for local content development and ensures that host communities within Abia benefit directly from the electricity market.
Additionally, the bill covers all aspects of electricity provision, from metering to infrastructure development, providing a comprehensive framework for the sector’s transformation. In an important step toward public participation, the Abia House of Assembly will hold a public hearing on the bill on Wednesday, December 17, 2024.
Mr. Monday urged residents, professionals, and community leaders to attend, as the hearing will allow stakeholders to offer valuable input. He emphasised that a participatory approach would strengthen the bill and lay a solid foundation for its effective implementation once passed into law.