| Energy Regulators Association of East Africa | |
| Abbreviation: | EREA |
| Formation: | 2008 |
| Status: | Not for profit organisation |
| Purpose: | Energy market regulation in East Africa |
| Location: | 8th Floor, NSSF Mafao House, Old Moshi Road, P.O. Box 1669, Arusha, Tanzania |
| Region Served: | East African Community |
| Membership: | 9 national energy regulatory authorities |
| Leader Title: | Executive Secretary |
| Leader Name: | Geoffrey Aori Mabea |
| Main Organ: | General Assembly and Executive Council |
| Affiliations: | EAC, East African Community |
| Website: | EREA |
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]
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.
EREA is composed of nine Key Result Areas and the objectives are summarised as follows:
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.
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,[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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority | EPRA | Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria | |
| EWURA | James Andilile | ||
| ZURA | Omar Ali Yusuf | ||
| Electricity Regulatory Authority | ERA | Ziria Tibalwa Waako | |
| PAU | Ernest Rubondo | ||
| Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority | RURA | Rugigana Evariste | |
| AREEN | Balthazar Nganikiye | ||
| Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority | PURA | Charles Sangweni | |
| Autorité de Régulation du secteur de l'Electricité | ARE | Ngalula Mubenga | |
Source:[23]
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. | align=left | ||
| 2. | align=left | ||
| 3. | align=left | ||
| 4. | align=left | ||
| 5. | align=left | ||
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| 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 |
| 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 |