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EREA Background

The Energy Regulators Association of East Africa (EREA) was founded in 2008 through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into by the then Chief Executive Officers of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) of Tanzania, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of Kenya, Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) of Uganda, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) of Rwanda and a Representative of the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Burundi.

EREA was established to, amongst other objectives; strengthen economic, commercial, social, cultural, political, technological and other ties for fast balanced and sustainable development within the East African region.

According to the MoU, the primary function of the association has been to pool expertise in regulatory matters relating to the energy sector, including but not limited to facilitating the development of good policy proposals and legislation on energy regulation, in line with international trends and best regulatory practices.

Other core functions outlined in the MoU include the need to promote regional cooperation in energy infrastructure planning, capacity building, and development of sustainable energy projects and harmonized market structures.

On 16th December 2013, the EREA Constitution was signed by the Chief Executive Officers of regulatory institutions in East Africa, namely:

  • Dr. Benon Mutambi, Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) of Uganda;
  • Mr. Haruna Masebu, Director General of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) of Tanzania;
  • Dr. Frederick Nyang, Acting Director General of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of Kenya;
  • Eng. Alfred D. Byigero, Acting Director General of the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) of Rwanda.

Following the signing of the constitution, EREA was formally registered in Tanzania on 8th December 2014.

The EREA Constitution provides for the establishment of EREA, its objectives and functions. Furthermore, the Constitution provides for the different organs of the association and their respective functions.

The organs of the Association are: the General Assembly, the Executive Council, the Secretariat, Portfolio Committees and such other and offices as Executive Council (EXCO) may consider necessary from time to time.

The EREA Secretariat was until December 2020 hosted by EWURA in Tanzania. The Secretariat is responsible for coordinating activities of the Association.

These activities include but are not limited to:

  • Economic issues relating to policies, planning, tariffs, market operations, consumer operations, research and information sharing;
  • Technical issues relating to generation, transmission, distribution and supply of energy in terms of quality, safety, standards, power system integration, the security of supply, renewable energy; and
  • Legal issues dealing with legislation, regulation, review of applicable laws, harmonization, compliance enforcement, training and capacity building.

EREA Brochure

EREA-Brochure

Regulation ball