NATIONAL ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY ACT
Act · Energy
Policy date: 2005-01-01
An Act that establishes the National Electric Power Authority as the state monopoly for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. It targets electricity consumers and sector regulators. This provides nationwide power supply.
NATIONAL ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY ACT
What Is This Policy?
The original Act establishing the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) as Nigeria's state electricity monopoly, now superseded by sector reforms that unbundled NEPA into successor companies under PHCN and subsequently the privatised distribution and generation companies.
Who Does It Target?
Historical electricity consumers (historical) NEPA staff (now in successor companies) Electricity sector regulator NERC (successor regulation) Privatised distribution companies (DISCOs)
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Establish NEPA as the state monopoly provider of electricity in Nigeria, responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of power nationwide.
Key Features
NEPA Establishment: Created NEPA as the sole electricity utility for Nigeria. Vertically Integrated: NEPA controlled the entire value chain from generation to retail. Tariff Setting: NEPA set tariffs which were politically influenced and typically below cost. Sector Reform: EPSRA 2005 unbundled NEPA into successor companies as part of privatisation.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Superseded — sector reformed under EPSRA 2005 Coverage: Historical Beneficiaries: Historical electricity consumers Funding: Federal Government
How to Access
Current electricity sector: engage your DISCO (Ikeja, Eko, IBEDC, etc.) NERC regulates the current electricity market — complaints to https://www.nerc.gov.ng Application method: Current electricity matters: NERC at https://www.nerc.gov.ng
Important Terms
NEPA and PHCN have both been dissolved — the current operators are privatised DISCOs and successor GenCos Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is still government-owned NERC is the current electricity regulator under EPSRA 2005
Official Resources
Website: https://www.nerc.gov.ng Contact: Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
Legal Framework
The National Electric Power Authority Act established NEPA (now superseded by the unbundled successor companies under the Electricity Act 2023). It is recognized under Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution as an existing law. The modern framework is the Electricity Act 2023, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Establishment) Act, and the successor companies' licences issued by NERC.