The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has formally transferred regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Gombe State to the Gombe State Electricity Regulatory Commission (GOSERC), marking a significant milestone in the ongoing decentralisation of Nigeria’s power sector.
The transfer, effective immediately following a commission order, removes Gombe from NERC’s direct regulatory control regarding intrastate electricity activities, in accordance with the amended Constitution and the Electricity Act 2023.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday, NERC confirmed that the transfer followed Gombe State’s compliance with all legal conditions precedent, including a formal notification and request for regulatory authority over its internal market.
While NERC retains its role as the central regulator for interstate and international generation, transmission, trading, and system operations, the Electricity Act empowers states to establish and regulate their own intrastate electricity markets once specific criteria are met.
“In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Gombe State from the commission to the Gombe State Electricity Regulatory Commission,” the notice read.
As part of the transition framework, NERC has directed the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) to unbundle its operations within the state. JED is required to incorporate a subsidiary company, to be known as JED SubCo, which will assume responsibilities for intrastate electricity supply and distribution in Gombe.
According to the order, JED must complete the incorporation of this subsidiary within 60 days from January 7, 2026. Following incorporation, the new entity is required to apply for and obtain an intrastate electricity licence from GOSERC.
NERC further directed that all transfers envisaged under the order must be fully completed on or before July 6, 2026.
“The subcompany shall apply for and obtain a licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from GOSERC, among other directives,” NERC stated.
Gombe’s entry into state-level electricity regulation adds to a growing list of subnational governments leveraging the constitutional amendment and the Electricity Act to assert control over their power sectors.
Since the passage of the Act, at least 12 states have either established electricity regulatory commissions or are at advanced stages of assuming intrastate regulatory oversight. These include Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Plateau, Imo, and Cross River, signalling a fundamental shift towards a federalised electricity market structure in Nigeria.