Establishment Of IRC

• Promote the efficiency, adequacy and availability of electricity
• Provide a level-playing ground for private sector participation in the power sector
• Issue licenses and regulations for private companies to engage in power
• Develop standards and procedures for electricity distribution that is at par with international best practices
• Arbitrate over disputes between power providers and service consumersEnsure that providers operate at a profit and that consumers pay a fair service rate
• Help articulate and advance government policies regarding power supply for national development

In the face of IRC functions and objectives, the commission is faced with a number of challenges which are myriad in themselves. One of these is arriving at an acceptable license fee given the fact that the government reportedly owes power providers. So getting providers to pay the proposed fee without passing on the financial burden to consumers remains a major problem.

Secondly, given the lack of manpower confronting the commission, IRC is not able to fully discharge its mandates for revenue collection and licensing fee procedures. The third major challenge facing the IRC is that the management has not instituted IT tools and management resources needed to facilitate a seamless regulation of the power sector.

Another challenge is that the commission is yet to establish a transparent and effective procedure for managing applications with competing interests. To this extent, many power operators tend to compete fiercely within a significantly geographic location.

However, the IRC remains resolute in its resolve to facilitate uninterrupted power supply in the country and to regulate service operators to the delight of consumers and assurance of national development.