The Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA), acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairperson of the Regional Energy Regulatory Association (RERA), Mr. Monti Ntlopo says despite achieving a number of milestones, the energy sector still faces key challenges like electricity load shedding which is a result of supply and demand imbalance.
This, Mr. Ntlopo said during the RERA Regional Information sharing seminar held in Maseru where LEWA is a host.
He said harmonization of policies, regulations and standards will go a long way in addressing most of the region’s challenges.
He noted that when the association was formed over two decades ago, independent regulation of utilities was in its infancy in their region, saying they have now matured, and the dynamics of regulation have changed.
The association has therefore realised the need and importance to protect electricity consumers, human resource management, audit and risk management in the regulatory sphere.
He added that this coupled with the decision of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers responsible for energy to transform RERA into an energy association, saying this resulted in the expansion and modification of RERA’s objectives hence the addition of Consumer Protection and Communication Services as the fourth objective.
Moreover, Mr. Ntlopo noted that one of the main agenda items of subcommittees is that the host Regulator gets an opportunity to be peer-reviewed by its sister regulators, saying he strongly believes that they carried out and will carry out this exercise with honesty, objectivity and thoroughness that characterise the professionalism expected of regulators.
Mr. Ntlopo added that as LEWA they look forward to receiving the peer-review report which they believe will contain recommendations that will help improve their operations.
Also speaking, the RERA Executive Director, Mr. Elijah Sichone said it is important for them to work together as the region to address energy challenges.
Mr. Sichone said regional integration and harmonization can help to reduce the costs of developing utility infrastructure and providing services.
He added that as part of the long-term measures, they should gradually increase the association revenue streams to cater for all their operations and positions.
RERA is a formal Association of Energy Regulators in the SADC region. Its mandate was expanded from electricity to energy regulation in 2019. It has its own Constitution stipulating the objectives, functions and other operational requirements. Membership to RERA is open to electricity/energy regulatory agencies in the member states of the SADC region.
RERA member states include South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Seychelles, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to mention a few.
The association strives to be a credible and leading regulatory organisation internationally and to advance the harmonisation of the SADC energy regulatory environment for the development of a sustainable regional energy market.
It specifically seeks to facilitate the development of a regional energy market that is efficient, integrated, harmonised, sustainable and investment friendly; develop and enhance the capacity of regulators; promote universal access to modern, clean, reliable, quality and affordable energy services and transform RERA to proactively influence developments in the energy sector.
The seminar will end on Friday where there will be a presentation of the peer review report for LEWA.
Source: LENA 19/ 04/ 2023
