The Ekiti State Government has established the State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (SERB) to serve as the apex regulator of electricity matters, ensuring standards across various market segments in the state.
Ekiti News reports that the establishment of the Bureau follows the signing into law of the Ekiti State Electricity Power Sector Act of 2023 by Governor Biodun Oyebanji in October 2023.
According to a government statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti said the Bureau is among other things entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of the law including issuing of licenses and permits for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across the State; enforcing the yearly energy efficiency compliance certification for vendors and marketers of energy products as well as the certification of energy professionals, contractors and companies and all other functions previously performed in the State by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The Bureau is also saddled with the responsibility of carrying out electrical inspection, monitoring and certification of new and existing electricity networks as well as enforcing statutory technical electrical standards and regulations for safety and security across the state and other functions previously performed by National Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
The Executive Secretary of the Bureau, Engr. Dare David while addressing the staff of Bureau during a recent meeting in Ado-Ekiti reiterated the commitment of the Oyebanji administration to the welfare of the people especially in the area of putting in place an efficient and effective independent Electricity market in the State.
Engr. David commended the Oyebanji Administration for ensuring the speedy completion and the coming-on-stream of the 5-Megawatt Independent Power Project, which is currently providing uninterrupted power supply to Government Offices and some other key government installations in the State Capital.
The Executive Secretary who also lauded the present administration for the restoration of Electricity to communities in Ayekire LCDA and Ekiti East after almost 16 years of being in perpetual blackout, urged staff of the Bureau to be prepared for the task ahead.