The Abia government has expressed its determination to address structural challenges and service gaps in its power sector.

The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, made this known during a press briefing on the State Executive Council meeting outcome in Umuahia.

Mr Monday said the Abia government, to actualise its desire to transform the power sector, had designed the Abia State Electricity Bill and was meticulously prepared with the support of professionals.

He said the bill, leveraging on the Electricity Act 2023, represented a transformative step toward building a competitive and efficient electricity market within the state.

The commissioner also said that the bill’s key features include the creation of Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority, Rural Electrification Agency and Abia State Electricity Fund.

Mr Monday said the government had evolved the bill to facilitate the creation of a market that would be driven by market forces, meaning that the tariff system would be very competitive.

Mr Monday said that great attention would be paid to renewable energy and local content because the bill contained provisions for incorporating renewable energy into the government’s power sector transformation agenda.

He said dedicated sections of the bill addressed host community benefits, which focused on ensuring that communities within Abia would actively benefit from the electricity market.

The commissioner explained that the bill covered all aspects of electricity provision, from metering to infrastructure development, ensuring a holistic framework for the state’s power sector.

He said the House of Assembly would hold a public hearing on the bill on Wednesday.

Mr Monday described this as an important opportunity for stakeholders, including residents, professionals, and community leaders, to contribute their insights.

According to him, active public participation during the hearing would ensure the bill reflects all the residents’ needs and aspirations.

He urged the people of Abia and stakeholders to participate in the hearing because a participatory approach would strengthen the bill and lay a solid foundation for its successful implementation when it became law.

(NAN)