By Amechi Obiakpu
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, will on Wednesday September 28, 2016 hold a public consultation on Mini-Grid.
The public consultation is scheduled to hold at Nike Lake Resort, Abakpa, Enugu, within the franchise area of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).
A statement by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company said that the aim of the meeting is to accelerate electrification in areas without existing Distribution Network (“Unserved areas”) and areas with an existing but poorly electrified or non-functional Distribution Grid (“Underserved areas”) by attracting participation of private sector, communities, Non-Governmental Organizations in achieving nationwide electrification.
This, the statement noted that its in line with the electricity regulatory authority’s primary responsibility to develop regulations as conferred by Sections 96(1) and 70(8) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 (Act No.6 of 2005).
“The regulation seeks to minimize major risks associated with Mini-Grid investments such as: Sudden tariff changes, as tariffs would have been agreed in advance by the relevant parties; and Stranded Mini-Grid Operator investments due to extension of main grid to cover the Mini-Grid area.
“It equally provides for Permit and tariff approval procedures which will ease the administrative burden on the Mini-Grid Operator and ensure the process of obtaining the Permit in a timely manner.”
Electricity stakeholders, State Rural Electrification Boards, potential Mini-Grid host communities and operators within `the franchise area of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) are enjoined by NERC to attend.
