Kogi Commission Promises Sustainable Electricity Supply

Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) says it’s committed to designing a system that guarantees a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supply to the state’s residents.

It assured consumers of the protection of their rights and a level playing field for the operators.
The commission’s chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), Engr Ibrahim Abdwaaris, said when the federal government, through its reforms, opened the way for states to establish their electricity regulatory commissions, it was not merely a policy shift, but a call on states to take ownership of their energy destiny.

He spoke at a stakeholders’ engagement on tariff establishment, with the theme, “Transparency and Public Participation in Electricity Tariff Setting” held in Lokoja yesterday.

The chairman said the commission had embraced the initiative “with clarity of purpose to build a system that guarantees reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity for our people.

“Since inception, the commission has worked tirelessly to design an electricity market that reflects the realities of our State while drawing strength from national and global best practices.

“Our journey has been one of constant dialogue, engaging communities, industry operators, consumer groups and development partners. We have made it a point to listen, to learn and to craft solutions that are fair, transparent, and workable,” he said.

“We know that tariffs are often one of the most sensitive issues in electricity markets. Consumers are concerned about affordability, while operators worry about recovering costs and making the investments necessary to improve service. Our duty as a commission is to balance these interests fairly. That is why our tariff methodology will be guided by three core principles of fairness, ensuring that consumers are not exploited. At the same time, service providers can remain viable,” the commission boss said.

The commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the state government would ensure transparency and accountability in regulating tariffs and power distribution.

He called on the stakeholders to be frank in their discussions so that the electricity market in the state could be better regulated.