The African Development Bank (AfDB) has selected Uganda’s Electricity Regulatory framework as the best on the African continent for the fifth consecutive year.
This is contained in the AfDB’s Electricity Regulatory Index (ERI) study for 2022.
The ERI is an empirical assessment of the Regulatory Environment and Performance of Electricity Regulators in Africa.
It measures the performance of National Regulatory Systems against international best practices and provides tailored recommendations on three dimensions; Regulatory Governance, Regulatory Substance, and Regulatory Outcome.
Uganda, which has occupied the top position since the inception of the ERI in 2018, maintained its prime standing in 2022 with an ERI score of 84.6%.
Other top performers included; Egypt (78.5%), Senegal (71%), Ghana (70.9%), and Kenya (69.5%).
The study revealed that the Electricity Regulatory frameworks in these five top countries are relatively well-developed and their utilities respond positively to regulatory instructions and guidelines, whilst their Regulators are forward-looking and capable of exerting the necessary regulatory authority over the regulated entities.
Uganda’s electricity sub sector is regulated by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) – a Statutory Body established in the year 2000, in accordance with the Electricity Act, 1999, (Chapter 145 of the Laws of Uganda) to regulate the Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Sale, Export and Import of Electrical Energy in Uganda.
ERA is mandated by the Electricity Act, 1999, to issue electricity Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Sale and Import Licenses, set License conditions and ensure compliance to License conditions by Licensees.E
ERA is also mandated to establish a tariff structure, approve rates of charges among other functions.
The Authority says it is committed to ensuring a sustainable Electricity Supply.