Section 176 Electricity Act 2023

Section 176 of the Electricity Act 2023 is about Objectives and functions of the NEMSA. It is under Part XVIII (Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency) of the Act.

Subject to this Act, the NEMSA shall ~
(a) carry out electrical inspectorate services for the NESI,
(b) enforce all statutory technical electrical standards and regulations as published by the Commission and all other relevant statutory bodies;

(c) collaborate with Standards Organisation of Nigeria and other relevant government agencies to ensure that all major electrical materials and equipment used in Nigeria are of the right quality and standards;
(d) ensure that the power systems and networks. put in place have been properly executed before use, to ensure that such systems are capable of delivering safe, reliable and sustainable electricity supply to consumers nationwide;

(e) enforce compliance with technical standards and specifications for all electrical installations, electrical plants, including power plants and auxiliary systems, electric networks and connectivity to the grid;
(f) enforce compliance with safety requirements for construction, operation and maintenance of electrical power plants, transmission system, distribution networks and electric installations:

(g) enforce the conditions for installation of meters for transmission systems, distribution networks and supply of electricity;
(h) carry out the duties of inspecting engineers for inspection, testing and certification of al! categories of electrical installation in the NEST;

(i) provide comprehensive technical support services that will guarantee the efficient production and delivery of safe and reliable power supply and enhance efficient service delivery industry-wide;

(j) provide sustained technical inspection, testing and certification of all electrical materials, (including transformer oil and chemicals) or equipment, power systems, networks (generation, transmission and distribution), or electrical installations to be used in the power sector, to ensure a stable system to deliver safe, reliable, regular power supply, guarantee safety of lives and property, and avert loss of lives and property in the NESI;

(k) test, calibrate and certify every brand of electricity meters and instruments whether locally manufactured or imported before use in the NESI, and to periodically carry out sample test of such meters and instruments deployed in the NEST;

(l) test and certify electrical installations in hazardous locations such as in filling stations, prospecting oil companies, off and onshore flow stations or wells, floating production storage and offloading vessels;
(m) process and issue competency certificates to qualified electrical personnel working in the NEST:

(n) regularly carry out periodic inspection, monitoring and assessment of existing power plants or stations, installations, Extra High Voltage (EHV) and High Voltage (HV) transmission lines and associated transmitting or switching stations and distribution networks to ensure that they are in regular fitness to generate, transmit, distribute and deliver reliable and safe power supply to the electricity consumers nationwide;

(o) regularly monitor the compliance level of the technical regulations, standards and specifications used in the NESI;
(p) carry out or cause to be carried out investigation of electrical accidents and electrocutions (outright deaths) in connection with generation, transmission, distribution, supply or use of electricity with a view to finding out the causes, and enforce remedial measures and proffer or Suggest ways of preventing future occurrence:

(q) promote research on matters affecting the generation, transmission, distribution and utilisation of electricity;
(t) publish information beneficial to the growth of the electricity industry including reports and investigations;

(s) advise the Minister and other relevant agencies on all technical matters relating to generation, transmission and distribution of electricity;
(t) take over the functions of statutory electrical inspection, testing and certification of all electrical installation hitherto carried out by the Director of Electrical Inspectorate Services and the Electrical Inspectorate Services Division of the Federal Ministry responsible for Power;

(u) provide non-core and ancillary services for commercial opportunities and drive in the NESI, including research and development, electricity information management systems, renewable energy services, specialised medical and heal-h care services, project management and consultancy, electricity workshop service, project unit service for specialised projects in the Nigerian electricity supply industry logistics, warehousing and printing technology;
(v) partner and to be a joint and major player with other related services in the NESL for technical and commercial services and to perform and provide all other related sevices in the NESI, as may be approved by the Minister:

(w) collaborate with other stakeholders in the electricity power sector on standards and specifications of all major electrical equipment and materials manufactured or imported for use in Nigeria, to ensure uniformity and ensure that all electrical equipment and materials comply with approved standards: and

(x) perform such other functions as may be provided under this Act or conferred by the Minister’s directives.