License Applications
The Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC) is the sole authority responsible for licensing and regulating all electricity-related activities within Anambra State, in line with Part IV (Sections 33–44) of the Anambra State Electricity Law, 2025.
Any person, company, or organisation intending to engage in the generation, transmission, distribution, supply, trading, or operation of electricity within the State must obtain the appropriate license, permit, or approval from ASERC before commencing operations.
Whether you are a private investor, renewable energy developer, community cooperative, industrial operator, or technical service provider, ASERC is your first point of contact for licensing, regulation, and support in the Anambra State Electricity Market.
Our goal is to make the process transparent, efficient, and supportive of projects that expand access to safe, affordable, and sustainable electricity across the State. In addition to the categories below, ASERC may create and issue other types of licenses as it may deem necessary to advance the State’s electricity market.
Generation Licenses
Required for entities that wish to generate electricity for sale within Anambra State. A generation license authorises the construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of a generating station for commercial supply in accordance with ASERC’s technical and environmental standards.
Typical applicants include:
- Independent Power Producers (IPPs) using gas, hydro, solar, biomass, or other sources;
- Successor generation companies operating within Anambra under the Electricity Act, 2023;
- Embedded or distributed generation developers serving communities or industrial clusters.
Transmission Licenses
Required for entities that wish to build or operate high-voltage networks conveying electricity from generating stations to distribution networks within the State.
Typical applicants include:
- Independent Electricity Transmission Network Operators (IETNOs);
- Private or public entities expanding transmission capacity to local grids;
- State Grid Company or subsidiaries engaged in in-State transmission.
Transmission licensees must ensure non-discriminatory open access to their networks and comply with ASERC’s technical and safety codes.
System Operation License
Required for entities that intend to coordinate and manage the flow of electricity on the grid within Anambra State.
This license covers:
- Scheduling and dispatch of generation;
- Transmission coordination and outage planning;
- Congestion management and ancillary services;
- Market settlement and operational planning.
System Operators must ensure reliable and secure operation of the State’s electricity network.
Distribution Licenses
Authorises the construction, operation, and maintenance of networks that deliver power to end-users at voltage levels of 33kV and below.
Typical applicants include:
- Distribution companies (DisCos) and their subsidiaries;
- Independent Electricity Distribution Network Operators (IEDNOs);
- Franchise operators or cooperatives managing specific service areas in partnership with licensed distributors.
Distribution licensees are responsible for metering, billing, network expansion, and customer service in their areas of operation.
Supply Licenses
Required for entities that wish to sell or retail electricity directly to consumers within Anambra State.
Typical applicants include:
- Retail providers buying power from distribution licensees or the market for resale;
- Embedded or off-grid suppliers serving estates, rural communities, or industrial parks;
- Community or cooperative suppliers distributing power within their locality.
Supply licensees must use Commission-approved contracts and uphold the service and billing standards set by ASERC.
Trading Licenses
Required for entities that plan to buy, sell, or trade electricity or ancillary services in bulk within the Anambra electricity market.
Typical applicants include:
- Bulk electricity traders, brokers, or aggregators;
- Private sector intermediaries entering into power purchase or resale agreements;
- State or community-backed entities promoting power-access projects.
All trading transactions must follow ASERC’s open, competitive, and transparent procurement procedures.
Permits & Exemptions
Not all electricity activities require a full license. Certain small-scale or specialised operations can operate under permits or exemptions issued by ASERC.
These include:
- Mini-Grid Operators supplying unserved or underserved communities;
- Captive Power Generators producing electricity solely for their own use;
- Renewable Energy Developers implementing solar, hydro, wind, or biomass projects;
- Electrical contractors and technicians holding competency certification from ASEMA;
- Franchise Operators working under existing distribution licensees.
Permits and exemptions are subject to capacity limits, safety requirements, and reporting obligations defined by ASERC.
Other Approvals
ASERC also grants a range of complementary approvals that support safe, efficient, and affordable power delivery across Anambra State.
These include:
- Tariff and pricing approvals for cost-reflective or special-project tariffs;
- Approvals for franchise or sub-license agreements;
- Meter type approvals for manufacturers and suppliers;
- Network expansion approvals for lines, substations, and interconnections;
- Environmental and safety compliance certificates (with ASEMA).
Who cannot operate without ASERC authorisation?
It is an offence under Section 33(1) of the Anambra State Electricity Law, 2025 to engage in any electricity generation, transmission, distribution, or trading activity within Anambra State without a valid license or permit.
However, Section 33(3) exempts certain small-scale projects from full licensing, including:
- Generation projects below 1 megawatt (MW) capacity; and
- Distribution networks below 100 kilowatts (kW) capacity,
or such other capacity thresholds as ASERC may specify from time to time. Even where a full license is not required, operators must still comply with applicable safety and reporting obligations.
Licensing & Permits (Framework in Progress)
ASERC is preparing the licensing framework for electricity activities that fall under Anambra State’s regulatory authority. When completed, this page will provide:
- Licensing categories
- Application guidelines
- Licensing requirements
- Downloadable application forms
- Processing timelines and fees
- Status updates for applicants
info@aserc.anambrastate.gov.ng
Full licensing information will be published shortly.The Legal, Licensing & Enforcement Division can support you with:
- Pre-application consultation and project scoping;
- Application documentation and publication requirements;
- Clarification on license fees, timelines, and validity periods;
- Compliance obligations, reporting, and renewal processes.
For enquiries, please contact the Commission through the official ASERC channels listed on the contact page.