By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) has recorded an increase in Internal revenue generation amounting to NLE 7.4 million, ranging from levies and licenses in 2024 compared to the NLE 2.3 million generated in 2023.
Explaining the Commission’s budget estimate for the Financial Year (FY) 2023 at the Ministry of Finance bilateral budget discussions on the 21st of August 2024, the Deputy Director of SLEWRC, Sama Sandi noted that NLE 2.037 million was budgeted for recurrent expenditures, NLE 954 thousand was eventually designated but at the end of the year, they received nothing from the ministry.
He stated that even though they were unable to receive money from the finance ministry, they however achieved key deliverables in 2023 like the sanitization of the packaged water industry through robust monitoring and enforcement actions resulting in increased licenses and quality of service.
He said that they completed the quarterly publication of complaints and performance monitoring reports which shows an average of 80% of all complaints sent to the commission being resolved within a week of receipt. He added that they also carried out enforcement actions against 64 non-compliant water companies which saw increased licensing by reaching out to more electricity and water sector operators.
For FY 2024, Deputy Director Sandi said they also budgeted NLE1.549 million for recurrent expenditures, NLE 911 thousand was allocated and they equally received nothing but were again able to undertake key deliverables like the expansion of operational network both locally and internally and developed Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) model for solar Mini-Grid which is about to be completed.
He stated that for FY 2025, the commission’s strategic Plan is to ensure SLEWRC’s organizational capacity is strengthened, ensure market entry, completion, and universal access, ensure quality of service comparable to international standards, and roll out the safety, warranty batching system for water products and monitor the implementation of the tariff rates to promote sustainability.
However, at the end of the budget presentation, the Deputy Director of SLEWRC submitted a budget of NLE 5,590.29 (five million, five hundred and ninety thousand New Leones) for FY 2025 to 2027.
SLEWRC regulates the electricity and water service providers. Its functions include ensuring issuing and, as the case may be, renewing, amending, suspending, revoking, or canceling licenses. It also provides guidelines on rates chargeable for the provision of electricity and water services.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (28/08/24)
