The lawmaker representing Benue North East Senatorial district, Senator Gabriel Suswam has said the Electricity Bill, 2022, has opened the space to generate power to an extent that states and individuals can venture into power generation and distribution.
He said the bill which was passed into law on Wednesday, has primarily de-monopolised power generation in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing with the Senate Press Corps after Wednesday’s plenary during which the bill was passed into law, Senator Suswam, said it was a model used in China that has made the country to have stability in power generation,
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
According to him: The State can now generate her own source of power. Any State that has the capacity without a license could do so knowing that the issue of electricity was part of the concurrent part of our Constitution.
“The Act has allowed the lincensing of people who have the capacity to go into establishing mini grids. Not just the mini grids, but power plants within the State. It means that the State lincensed power plant would not be allowed beyond their State.
“Anything that is beyond the State will be licensed by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the State that will lincensed will have their own regulatory authority just like we have NERC at the Federal.
“To lincense mini grids for individuals who have the capacity to establish the mini grid and operate within the franchise that would be given to them either by the state or the federal government.
Also Read: Electricity Distribution Company Disconnects Gov’t Offices In Niger Over N1.9bn Debt
He added: “Also, the issue of renewable energy will now have a legal backing beside generating one megawatts as an alternative source of power, and has also been incorporated and provided. So, all of these have legal backing for those who want to generate power.
“We are looking for ways to solve power problems. Sometime ago, I was in China and some of the power generated are owned by the community within the community and there is electricity throughout wherever you go.
“That is to say that the space is now open and there is little restriction to generate power and distribute.
“When the president eventually sign the bill, you will see that anyone who want to generate power below one megawatts doesn’t need a license to do that
“We have also expanded the powers of NERC as a regulator so that they can be able to regulate and address the issue of failing licensees.”
