Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission set to sanitize  Sector

Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

The Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission ISERC is very set to sanitize the Electricity market in the state.

ISERC which was established last six months by the Executive Governor of Imo state,  Most Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma has set the ball rolling to regulate the activities in the electricity industry.

This came as a result of a recent Act by the National Assembly to allow states manage their own electricity industry thereby decentralizing it to the benefits of all.

Speaking to Media men in his office at Owerri on Monday 10th February, 2025, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ISERC, Engr Bede Opara said he is ready to give his best to ensure electricity industry is properly regulated in Imo state.

” After my retirement, I was privileged to be honoured by the governor of Imo state to serve in this commission, and for me to serve my state, I told myself that I will do my best to serve the purpose by which I was engaged, that is Electricity Regulation in Imo state”, he stated.

Engr Opara, a graduate of Electrical Engineering and former General Manager of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Lagos stated that ISERC is going to liberalize the electricity market to allow investors come into the sector.

He said the reason of allowing investors into electricity market is because the sector is highly capital intensive.

” We want to regulate the electricity market in such a way that it will attract investors and any investor who puts his money must get it back. And if he invest in electricity market in Imo state that is properly regulated, he will be sure of getting back his money plus profit”, he noted.

Opara hinted that his commission wants investors with capacity that will keep quality electricity sustainable and the cost of getting it will be effective and affordable.

” We want the investor that has capacity to invest in electricity market in Imo state, they will keep quality sustainable but it has to be cost effective. If it is not cost effective the investor may not continue because they consumers will not like to consume.

We will not depend on subsidy because subsidy is not reliable that is why the regulation we want to do in Imo state will be such that the investor will not be cheated and the consumer will not cheated”, he hinted.

The ISERC boss from Mbaise in Imo state said before now the National Electricity Regulation Commission was a  bit far from the people but now that it is very close to consumers, he believes that it would be better done.

He said the regulation will also involve the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company EEDC but that the new law says it will register a sub company that will take care of Imo state.

The chairman who hinted that all his life he has worked only in power holding sector noted that they will regulate all the electricity distribution companies who will operate within Imo state, like the Orashi Electricity Distribution Company and others that will be springing up soon.

He said the Commission has licensed Orashi Electricity Company and their license is big adding that they will generate, distribute and transmit.

Mr Opara pointed out that Orashi Electricity Company will soon start operation as the government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Egypt as major partners in its operation.

He emphasizied that with the body language of the governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma a lot will happen in the electricity industry before the year runs out as the governor is highly committed to it.

” This is because when you have electricity,  Commerce will increase, Job creation will increase, a lot of businesses will spring up and the economy will boom”, Opara said.

The Engineer turned politician enjoined Imo citizens to be patient with the government of Imo state while praying for the realization of the Governor’s good intentions to Imo people.

” To regulate Enugu Electricity Distribution Company our duty is to make sure that all the complaints about electricity in Imo state are taken care of.

As it stands now we have formed a Forum that will look into the complaint of the Imolites. We have engaged about five forum members to look into them”, he hinted.

In a related development, Engr Bede Opara briefed the press of the outcome of the first Forum meeting on Wednesday 12th February noting the commission would establish a Forum office to give Imo people the opportunity to voice out their complaints against EEDC.

He said if you have any complaint against the electricity providers, go  to Forum members and complain, if the issue was not treated, you can come to ISERC office, then they would invite the two parties and look into the matter, and sanction who should be sanctioned.

” In our five Forum membership, we have lawyers, Engineers, Chambers of Commerce professionals, the academia who will look into electricity matters. Mr Nnamdi Gogo Okwuosa is the Commissioner in charge of Customer Affairs.

We have been engaging with the public to know what they are doing. We have scheduled about 18 cases and we have provided oversight functions over electricity companies .

In my opening remarks, I pleaded with everyone to cooperate so that we make Imo state electricity better.

The consumers have brought complaints, the providers also, we will base on what the law says to absolve any person that is innocent so that everybody will go home happy.

The consumers should be ready to pay what they should pay as bills, so that the providers will be ready to provide light.

If the provider knows that he will gain in his investment, he will continue to provide electricity.

Therefore we are not going to side anybody, we will always do it the way it should be done so that both parties will be happy”, the chairman stated.

The Chief Executive Officer of ISERC, Engr Opara who has judiciously used the resources given to him to beautify the environment of the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission has also commended the Governor of Imo state, Dist. Sen. Dr. Hope Odidika Uzodinma for his magnanity and support for the commission.