Which Nigerian States Are Regulating Their Own Electricity in 2026? Full List 

Some Nigerian states have successfully transitioned to regulating their own electricity markets. This shows a 2022 decision to decentralise Nigeria’s power sector, empowering states to manage electricity generation, distribution, and regulation. 

The full transition of states from federal oversight to state-controlled electricity markets is a key part of the nation’s ongoing efforts to improve power supply and attract investment. 

Here are the Nigerian States Regulating Their Own Electricity in 2026:

1. Enugu — October 22, 2024

Enugu was among the first states to take full regulatory control of its electricity market. The groundwork was laid when Governor Peter Mbah signed the state electricity bill into law on September 8, 2023, establishing the legal basis for the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

On October 22, 2024, NERC formally relinquished oversight to the commission, vesting in it the authority to regulate, generate, and transmit electricity within the state.

2. Ekiti — October 22, 2024

Ekiti moved early and deliberately. Governor Biodun Oyebanji signed the Ekiti State Electric Power Sector Law in October 2023, and by March 2024, the state had established its State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (SERB) , the first in the South-West to do so.

NERC handed over full regulatory oversight on October 22, 2024, the same day as Enugu, marking Ekiti as one of the pioneer states in Nigeria’s electricity decentralisation push.

3. Ondo — October 23, 2024

Ondo’s story is one of the longest in this list. The state passed its power law in 2020 and established the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB) in 2021, well before the federal Electricity Act created the framework that made such moves legally standard.

The formal transition from NERC was completed on October 23, 2024. Since then, the state has granted generation and distribution licences to Ore Power Limited and ASB Valiant Electricity Limited to improve supply within its borders.

4. Imo — December 31, 2024

Imo closed out 2024 as the fourth state to assume independent regulatory authority over its electricity market. Governor Hope Uzodimma signed the Imo State Electricity Reforms Law in May 2024, creating the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC) as the state’s independent regulator. The transition from NERC was completed on December 31, 2024.

5. Oyo — February 5, 2025

Oyo State transitioned on February 5, 2025, with the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (OSERC) now overseeing intrastate electricity operations. A key part of the state’s approach involves the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which created a subsidiary to operate under OSERC’s supervision.

The structure is designed to unlock embedded generation and improve supply reliability across industrial clusters in Ibadan and surrounding areas.

6. Edo — February 20, 2025

Edo State assumed formal regulatory control on February 20, 2025, having secured early transition approval from NERC in August 2024. The Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ESERC) now oversees generation, distribution, and licensing within the state.

Edo has positioned itself as a hub for modular and off-grid power investment, leveraging its partnership with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to strengthen last-mile distribution and attract independent power producers.

7. Kogi — March 12, 2025

Kogi State completed its transition on March 12, 2025, following a regulatory transfer that began in September 2024. The Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) now holds authority over the state’s intrastate electricity market.

The state’s strategy leans on its geographic position within the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company’s (AEDC) network, working through AEDC’s subsidiary structure to expand electricity access, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

8. Lagos — June 4, 2025

Lagos transitioned on June 4, 2025, and has since set the pace for the rest of the country. The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) oversees what is the most ambitious subnational electricity market in Nigeria. The state has attracted more private capital than any other, channelling investment into gas-fired and renewable energy projects.

Its goal is straightforward: reduce dependence on the national grid and guarantee stable power to industrial zones in Ikeja, Lekki, and Apapa.

9. Ogun — June 23, 2025

Ogun State completed its transition on June 23, 2025, with the Ogun State Electricity Regulatory Commission (OGERC) assuming oversight of electricity generation and distribution. The state’s approach is heavily industrial, shaped by its proximity to Lagos and its large manufacturing base.

Ogun has built partnerships with multiple distribution companies, including IBEDC, Ikeja Electric, and Eko DisCo, to deliver more stable, dedicated power solutions to its manufacturing clusters.

10. Niger — July 9, 2025

Niger State completed its transition on July 9, 2025, after NERC issued a transfer order in January of that year. The Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission (NSERC) now operates under the Niger State Electricity Law 2024.

The state carries significant investment potential, sitting in proximity to major hydropower infrastructure and seeing growing private sector activity in mini-grid and solar hybrid systems, particularly for rural electrification projects.

11. Plateau — September 12, 2025

Plateau State assumed regulatory control on September 12, 2025, following a transition framework established in March of that year. The Plateau State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) now oversees electricity operations statewide.

The immediate focus has been on deepening the state’s partnership with the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), expanding embedded generation, and improving supply stability in Jos and surrounding urban centres.

12. Abia — December 24, 2025

Abia State’s transition was completed on December 24, 2025, after Governor Alex Otti signed the Abia State Electricity Bill into law in March 2025. The Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) has moved quickly since assuming control, licensing a private company to build a 100-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Aba.

The state’s integrated power initiative in Aba, one of the few stable, ring-fenced electricity systems in Nigeria, driven by private-sector participation, is already being cited as a model for other states to follow.

13. Anambra — January 1, 2026

Anambra began 2026 by completing its transition on January 1, with NERC’s transfer order taking effect on that date. The Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC) wasted little time, issuing an interim licence to First Power Electricity Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), to serve as the state’s electricity distributor as its broader market develops.

14. Nasarawa — February 3, 2026

Nasarawa State is one of the more recent additions, completing its transition on February 3, 2026. The Nasarawa State Electricity Regulatory Commission (NASERC) has been inaugurated with its full board and management in place.

A central requirement of the transition plan is that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) must establish a dedicated subsidiary to manage electricity supply within Nasarawa, which will then be licensed and regulated by NASERC.

15. Bayelsa — February 20, 2026

Bayelsa is the most recent state to join the list, completing its transition on February 20, 2026. The Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency (BYERA) is now empowered to license providers, set tariffs, and promote investment in off-grid power solutions within the state.

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has been directed to establish a subsidiary to handle intrastate supply and distribution in Bayelsa under BYERA’s oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which Nigerian states are now regulating their own electricity?
As of early 2026, 15 states have transitioned to regulating their electricity markets. These states are: Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Oyo, Edo, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Plateau, Abia, Anambra, Nasarawa, and Bayelsa.

2. What law allows Nigerian states to regulate their own electricity?
The Electricity Act, signed into law in June 2023, allows states to regulate electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. This followed a 2022 decision by the Senate to move electricity regulation from the federal Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.

3. Which state was the first to regulate its own electricity in Nigeria?
Ondo State was the first to pass its electricity law in 2020 and establish its regulatory body, the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB), in 2021. It officially took over from NERC in October 2024.

4. Which state has attracted the most electricity investment?
Lagos has attracted the most private investment in the power sector, focusing on both gas-fired and renewable energy projects. Its aim is to reduce reliance on the national grid and provide stable power to industrial zones.

5. What happens to states that have not transitioned yet?
States that have not yet enacted their own electricity laws or established state regulators remain subject to NERC, which continues to oversee their electricity markets.

6. How often did Nigeria’s national grid collapse in 2024?
In 2024, Nigeria’s national grid collapsed at least 12 times, averaging about one collapse per month. Two more collapses occurred in January 2026, highlighting the ongoing challenges within the national power infrastructure.