Energy Regulators Association of East Africa
The Energy Regulators Association of East Africa (EREA) is a non-profit organisation mandated to spearhead harmonisation of energy regulatory frameworks, sustainable capacity building and information sharing among the List of energy regulatory bodies in the East African Community.[1][2] Its key objective is to promote the independence of national regulators and support the establishment of a robust East African energy union.[3][4]
![]() Logo of the Energy Regulators Association of East Africa | |
Abbreviation | EREA |
---|---|
Formation | 2008 |
Legal status | Not for profit organisation |
Purpose | Energy market regulation in East Africa |
Location |
|
Region served | East African Community |
Membership | 9 national energy regulatory authorities |
Executive Secretary | Geoffrey Aori Mabea |
Main organ | General Assembly and Executive Council |
Affiliations | EAC, East African Community |
Website | EREA |
Foundation and mission
On 28 May 2008, four national energy regulatory authorities voluntarily signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" for the establishment of the Energy Regulators Association of East Africa (EREA).[5][6] Subsequently, it was recognized by the 8th Sectoral Council on Energy of East African Community (EAC) as a forum of energy regulators in the EAC on 21 June 2013.[7] It was registered by the United Republic of Tanzania on 23 May 2019 into a company limited by guarantees and without share capital under the Companies Act, 2002, and the Memorandum of Association. The EREA represents seven members – the national energy regulators from the EAC Member States.[8]
The EREA works closely with the EAC,[9][10] African Union[11] Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP)-Independent Regulatory Board (IRB), National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners[12] and The Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa (RAERESA). EREA's seat is in Arusha, Tanzania.
Objectives and functions
EREA is composed of nine Key Result Areas and the objectives are summarised as follows:
- Facilitating the harmonization of NRI’s policies, tariff structures and legislation in the Member States;[13][14][15]
- Sustainable Capacity Building through the establishment of the Energy Regulation Centre of Excellence (ERCE) to support regional member institutions[9]
- contribute to the advancement of research on regulatory issues[10]
- Promoting regional co-operation in the planning and development of an integrated energy market and infrastructure.[16][17]
- Promoting independent regulation in the East African Community.[18]
EREA was established to also, amongst other objectives; strengthen economic, commercial, social, cultural, political, technological and other ties for fast balanced and sustainable development within the East African region.[4]
Members and Governance
EREA members include Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) of Tanzania, Energy Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) of Kenya, Zanzibar Utility Regulatory Authority (ZURA) of Zanzibar, and Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) of Uganda. Others include Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) of Uganda, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) of Rwanda and Autorité de Régulation des secteurs de l’Eau potable et de l’Energie (AREEN) of Burundi.[19][20] EREA is also supporting the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to establish an independent regulatory authority which will eventually be integrated within the regional regulatory association. The Association has four organs and applies the principle of rotating leadership of the organs among its members. These organs are: (a) The General Assembly (G.A.) – the supreme organ, is currently chaired by AREEN-Burundi. The GA is the meeting of chairpersons and chief executive officers of the national regulatory authorities in EAC. (b) The Executive Council – is currently chaired by EWURA-Tanzania. This a meeting of Chief Executive Officers/Director Generals of the national regulatory authorities in EAC. (c) The Secretariat - is headed by the Executive Secretary-Dr. Geoffrey Aori Mabea,[18][21] appointed for a three-year term, and the position is on a rotational basis among the countries of East African Community. (d) Three Specialized Portfolio Committees for handling Economic, Legal, and Technical matters of the Association.[22]
Country | Authority | Short Name | Director General |
---|---|---|---|
Kenya | Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority | EPRA | Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria |
Tanzania | Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority | EWURA | James Andilile |
Zanzibar | Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority | ZURA | Omar Ali Yusuf |
Uganda | Electricity Regulatory Authority | ERA | Ziria Tibalwa Waako |
Uganda | Petroleum Authority of Uganda | PAU | Ernest Rubondo |
Rwanda | Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority | RURA | Rugigana Evariste |
Burundi | Autorité de Régulation des secteurs de l’Eau potable et de l’Energie / Authority for Regulation of Water and Energy Sectors | AREEN | Balthazar Nganikiye |
Tanzania | Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority | PURA | Charles Sangweni |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Autorité de Régulation du secteur de l'Electricité | ARE | Ngalula Mubenga |
EAC Electricity Markets
The East African Community's Electricity Regulatory Index(ERI)[23]
![](../I/Eac_countries1.jpg.webp)
The African Development Bank carried out a third electricity regulatory index for Africa to assess the three main pillars of regulation. They included: the Regulatory Governance Index (RGI); the Regulatory Substance Index (RSI); and the Regulatory Outcome Index (ROI). In the report, the East African Community members states shows a significant improvement in the key regulatory index. According to the African Development Bank, Uganda has maintained the top position for two consecutive years.[24]
No. | Country | 2020-ERI |
---|---|---|
1. | ![]() | 0.434 |
2. | ![]() | 0.633 |
3. | ![]() | 0.580 |
4. | ![]() | - |
5. | ![]() | 0.721 |
6. | ![]() | 0.801 |
End User Electricity Tariff
Category | Kenya | Rwanda | Tanzania | Uganda | Burundi |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domestic Lifeline | 12.7 | 9.9 | 4.38 | 6.7 | 4.7 |
US¢/kWh | US¢/kWh | US¢/kWh | US¢/kWh | US¢/kWh | |
Domestic Other | 18.7 | 20.3 | 15.33 | 20.0 | 23.8 |
Small Commercial | 18.5 | 21.4 | 12.79 | 17.7 | 17.3 |
Medium Industries | 14.0 | 10.9 | 6.66 | 9.7 | 12.4 |
Large Industries | - | - | - | 8.1 | - |
Street Lighting | 10.2 | 20.6 | 12.79 | 9.9 | N/A |
Electricity Statistics for EAC
Performance indicator (Parameter) | Kenya | Rwanda | Tanzania | Uganda | Burundi |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Installed capacity(MW) | 2819 | 207.5 | 1732.2 | 1254.2 | 72.75 |
Electricity access rate (%) | 79.31 | 53 | 67.5 | 50 | 6 |
System load factor (%) | 69.56 | 56 | 72.92 | 70 | 56.1 |
System losses (%) (annually). Transmission and distribution | 24.02 | 19 | 14.72 | 19 | 20 |
Number of connected customers in Millions | 7.263 | 0.95 | 2.23 | 1.5 | 0.12 |
Consumption per capita (kWh/year) | 155.4 | 55.64 | 138.55 | 101.18 | 23 |
See also
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA-RAERESA)
- Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA)
- Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP-IRB)
- Energy Regulation Centre of Excellence (ERCE)
References
- "E. Africa's energy regulator now operational". The Star. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- Annual Action Programme 2016 (part 1) in favour of Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean region to be financed from the 11th European Development Fund (PDF). European Commission. 2016. p. 4.
- Gnolou, Keli Robert. "La Communauté De L'Afrique De L'Est Mise Sur Une énergie Fiable Et Abordable Pour Favoriser L'intégration | NorAfrik.com" (in French). Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- Ltd, Tanzania Standard Newspapers. "East African Energy Union coming soon". dailynews.co.tz. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- "EAC Energy Regulators meet in Gisenyi". The New Times | Rwanda. 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- Geothermal Development in Eastern Africa (PDF). International Renewable Energy Agency. 2020. p. 25.
- "PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2011/2012 TO THE EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY" (PDF). East African Legislative Assembly.
- Administrator. "Burundi establishes WSS Regulator". www.esawas.org. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- "Reliable and affordable energy key to EAC integration". www.eac.int. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- "Le secrétariat de la CAE veut s'associer à l'EREA pour une énergie abordable". Map Ecology (in French). 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- "AUC Commissioner Highlights Strategies for Empowering Women in the African Energy Sector".
- "NARUC Convenes Fifth East Africa Regional Partnership Exchange". NARUC. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
- "GEOTHERMAL DEVELOPMENT IN EASTERN AFRICA" (PDF).
- "ERRA Associate Members".
- Ongwae, Macharia Kamau and Stanley. "Limping economy sees lower uptake of fuel and electricity". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- "East African Community bets on reliable and affordable energy to drive integration". Africa Business Communities. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- "Meet a Kenyan spareheading harmonised power tariff in E. Africa". The Star. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- "Regional energy regulator picks Kenyan CEO". The East African. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- "EREA Background". Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- "Extract Newsletter". Extractives Hub. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- "Meet a Kenyan spareheading harmonised power tariff in E. Africa". The Star. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- "Organisation structure". Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- "Electricity Regulatory Index for Africa 2020". African Development Bank - Building today, a better Africa tomorrow. 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- "Uganda Ranked No. 1 in the Second Africa Electricity Regulatory Index". www.era.go.ug. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- "END USER TARIFFS FOR VARIOUS CONSUMER CATEGORIES ELECTRICITY TAXES, LEVIES AND SUBSIDIES, DEMAND AND SUPPLY BALANCES FOR EACAS AT DECEMBER 2019" (PDF).
- "DEMAND AND SUPPLY (SAIDI & SAIFI, LOSSES, CONNECTIVITY RATE) 2020" (PDF).