5 Role of Law in the Energy Transitions in Africa …
149
5.2.4 NERC Regulations
NERC is generally empowered to make regulations prescribing all
matters necessary for the actualization of the objectives of the EPSRA
and to regulate the NESI.
39 These regulations have the force of law as
subsidiary legislation.
40 They contain provisions such as those setting
out the criteria for unlimited customer eligibility status and trading
licenses,
41 as well as those requiring isolated mini-grids or stand-alone
systems operators to first obtain a license from NERC.
42 Even more
are the provisions subjecting RE generations above 1 MW,
43 embedded
power generation,
44 independent electricity distribution networks,
45 and
captive power generation
46 to the prior approval of NERC. These
requirements have far-reaching implications on NESI, the implementation of which raise key questions about whether NERC is competent
to make such regulations in the first place in the face of relevant
constitutional and statutory provisions highlighted above.
39 EPSRA, s 96.
40 EPSRA, s 96 (1), (2), (3) and (4); Interpretation Act, s 18 (1). See also Amusa v. The state
(2003) 4 NWLR (pt 811) 595.
41 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Eligible Customer) Regulations 2017 (“ECR”)
(Regulation No: NERC-R-111), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remository/Regula
tions/orderby,7/page,1/?Itemid=0.
42 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Regulations for Mini-Grids 2016 (Regulation No:
NERC/R-110/17) (“Mini-Grid Regulations”), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remosi
tory/Regulations/orderby,7/page,1/?Itemid=0.
43 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Regulations on Feed-in Tariff for Renewable
Energy Sourced Electricity in Nigeria 2015 (“REFIT Regulations”) (Regulation No: NERCXXXX), https://www.nbet.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/REGULATIONSONFEEDI
NTARIFFFORRENEWABLEENERGYSOURCEDELECTRICITYINNIGERIA.pdf.
44 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Embedded Generation) Regulations 2012
(“EGR”), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remository/Regulations/orderby,7/page,3/?
Itemid=0.
45 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Independent Electricity Distribution Networks)
Regulations 2012 (“IEDN Regulations”), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remository/
Regulations/orderby,7/page,3/?Itemid=0.
46 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Permits for Captive Power Generation) Regulations 2008 (“CPGR”), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remository/Regulations/orderb
y,7/page,2/?Itemid=0.
149
5.2.4 NERC Regulations
NERC is generally empowered to make regulations prescribing all
matters necessary for the actualization of the objectives of the EPSRA
and to regulate the NESI.
39 These regulations have the force of law as
subsidiary legislation.
40 They contain provisions such as those setting
out the criteria for unlimited customer eligibility status and trading
licenses,
41 as well as those requiring isolated mini-grids or stand-alone
systems operators to first obtain a license from NERC.
42 Even more
are the provisions subjecting RE generations above 1 MW,
43 embedded
power generation,
44 independent electricity distribution networks,
45 and
captive power generation
46 to the prior approval of NERC. These
requirements have far-reaching implications on NESI, the implementation of which raise key questions about whether NERC is competent
to make such regulations in the first place in the face of relevant
constitutional and statutory provisions highlighted above.
39 EPSRA, s 96.
40 EPSRA, s 96 (1), (2), (3) and (4); Interpretation Act, s 18 (1). See also Amusa v. The state
(2003) 4 NWLR (pt 811) 595.
41 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Eligible Customer) Regulations 2017 (“ECR”)
(Regulation No: NERC-R-111), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remository/Regula
tions/orderby,7/page,1/?Itemid=0.
42 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Regulations for Mini-Grids 2016 (Regulation No:
NERC/R-110/17) (“Mini-Grid Regulations”), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remosi
tory/Regulations/orderby,7/page,1/?Itemid=0.
43 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Regulations on Feed-in Tariff for Renewable
Energy Sourced Electricity in Nigeria 2015 (“REFIT Regulations”) (Regulation No: NERCXXXX), https://www.nbet.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/REGULATIONSONFEEDI
NTARIFFFORRENEWABLEENERGYSOURCEDELECTRICITYINNIGERIA.pdf.
44 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Embedded Generation) Regulations 2012
(“EGR”), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remository/Regulations/orderby,7/page,3/?
Itemid=0.
45 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Independent Electricity Distribution Networks)
Regulations 2012 (“IEDN Regulations”), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remository/
Regulations/orderby,7/page,3/?Itemid=0.
46 Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Permits for Captive Power Generation) Regulations 2008 (“CPGR”), https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/component/remository/Regulations/orderb
y,7/page,2/?Itemid=0.