ECOWAS electricity regulators, operators to meet in Accra

Members of the Consultative Committees of Regulators and operators of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) would hold their sixth meeting on November 17, to November 18, in Accra.

The meeting would precede the launch of the West African electricity market.

A statement issued by ERERA at the weekend, said the meeting would specifically consider the status of the implementation of the ECOWAS ministerial Directive on the organisation of the regional electricity market issued in 2013.

The Directive provides the general framework for governing the regional electricity market within the framework of the ECOWAS Energy Protocol.

It also relates to the operations of the electricity market principles such as the market design and phases, open access to the regional transmission network and access by eligible customers, as well as the harmonization of cross-border contractual arrangements.

The meeting would also review the draft dispute resolution procedures and enforcement rules prepared by ERERA for the discharge of its quasi-judicial functions with regards to the regional electricity market.

The Committee members would, in addition, review ERERA’s draft strategic plan and programmes for 2016 to 2020 as well as consider proposals on the re-branding of the institution’s annual Electricity Regulatory Forum to make it more effective.

They would also receive briefings on ERERA’s draft model contract of the regional power market, including templates for bilateral contracts during the first phase of the market.

The meeting would be treated to presentations on the basics of transmission tariff methodologies, meant to address the sensitive issue of cross-border electricity costs.