The Edo State House of Assembly has passed a bill to repeal the Rural Electricity Board Law of 1972 to re-enact a law that makes provision for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity for the residents of Edo State, paving the way for the establishment of an electricity market in the state.
The Assembly unanimously adopted all six parts of the bill during a session on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.
The Speaker, Hon. Marcus Onobun, directed the Assembly Clerk to forward clean copies of the bill for assent to Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The passed bill provides for the liberalisation of the electricity market in the state, allowing for a more pragmatic approach to rural electrification and expansion of distribution infrastructure in the state.
The passing of the bill spells better days for electricity consumers in the state, who will now benefit from proper regulation of the electricity sector in the state, which would allow operators a more predictable business environment.
In the new regime, electricity providers in the state with Generation License, the Independent Electricity Distribution Network License and Eligible Customer (willing buyer & seller) approval, from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, would reap the full benefit of a liberalised electricity market.
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