Osun commences work on State Electricity Market policy and bill

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has disclosed plans by his administration to develop a plan of action for the making of Osun State Electricity Market policy and legislation.

Speaking on recent signing into law of a constitutional amendment empowering state governments to regulate electricity market within their boundaries, Governor Adeleke in a statement on Monday directed the setting up of a technical committee to prepare the state policy plan on the management of state power sector.

The Governor noted that the committee is to come up with a detailed plan to create Osun State Electricity Market Policy and a draft Executive bill to be named Osun Electricity Act.

The new policy will also include creation of Osun State Electricity Regulatory Commission to issue licences to private firms ready to engage in power production and regulate interface among operators within the power sector from the power generators, distributors and the consumers.

The planned policy will also facilitate private sector investment in the state electricity sector, encourage alternative energy sources from renewable to other green power sources, the statement noted.

Other part of the plan is to electrify Osun programmes to ensure all towns and villages in Osun are provided with power supply from mini-dams to other sources of energy.

Governor Adeleke who promised to inaugurate the committee soon also expressed the intention of his administration to seek the support of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on the state electricity market plans.

The Chief Executive informed the state that the Executive bills he will soon be submitting to the legislature include the Osun State Startup bill, the Osun State Climate Action Bill and the State Electricity Market Bill.