Provincial Electricity Enforcement: SLEWRC Conducts Targeted Compliance Operations in Makeni, Bo, and Kenema
Provincial Electricity Enforcement: SLEWRC Conducts Targeted Compliance Operations in Makeni, Bo, and Kenema In line with its statutory mandate to regulate the electricity sector and improve standard safety measures, the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) has executed a series of targeted electricity enforcement operations across regional headquarters in Makeni, Bo, and Kenema. The field operations focused heavily on two core compliance measures: • Captive Generation Licenses mandatory for all operators utilizing generators of 10 kVA and above. • Commercial Licenses required for the legal sale of electrical materials and equipment. The enforcement operations saw a successful exercise in Makeni on June 16 and 17, 2026. Operations subsequently moved to the Bo region on June 19, before wrapping up field exercises in Kenema. During the operations, the Commission technical inspection team evaluated commercial installations of various business establishments, generators, and electrical materials and equipment, verified active regulatory documentation/ license , and engaged local vendors on safety parameters. The team notes that these initiatives remain central to the Commission’s broader strategy to enhance safety standards, strengthen statutory compliance, and foster responsible, lawful electricity consumption nationwide. Commercial operators and utility material vendors are reminded to proactively verify their licensing compliance status through official SLEWRC communication channels.
SLEWRC Launches Regional Public Hearings on Proposed Mini-Grid Electricity Tariff Reviews Moyamba, Sierra Leone
SLEWRC Launches Regional Public Hearings on Proposed Mini-Grid Electricity Tariff Reviews Moyamba, Sierra Leone June 26th, 2026 Following the successful conclusion of its nationwide Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) roadshow, the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) has formally launched a series of regional public hearings. The consultations, spanning Moyamba, Koribondo, Kono, Kabala, and Makeni, are structured to review tariff applications submitted by rural mini-grid operators Power Leone, PowerGen, and NOA Leone. The primary objective of these regional exercises is to provide rural consumers with a transparent, accessible platform to publicly comment on the proposed adjustments. Through this mechanism, the Commission aims to balance consumer affordability with the operational sustainability of mini-grid operators. The opening phase commenced at the Jane Lahai Hall in Moyamba, convening local authorities, traditional chiefs, and residents from surrounding localities including Moyamba Junction, Bradford, Tiama, Kangahun, and Gbangbatoke. Discussions centered on a proposal by Power Leone to adjust the current mini-grid tariff from Le 7 to Le 13 per kilowatt-hour. Opening the session, Commissioner Edward Komeh, representing the Consumer Protection Agency at the Commission’s Board, stated that as a statutory regulator, SLEWRC executes these hearings to guarantee a predictable, objective, and fair process. He reiterated that community feedback is directly captured before any official regulatory decisions are made. SLEWRC Deputy Director-General, Hon. Sama I. Sandy, urged residents to use the platform to openly voice grievances regarding the quality of mini-grid supply, assuring them that community inputs heavily weigh on final approvals. Locally, demand for mini-grid electricity infrastructure remains a priority, highlighted by Paramount Chief Samuel H. Bengeh of Moyamba Junction, who lobbied for the extension of mini-grid networks to the Fakunya Chiefdom headquarters. Defending the tariff application, Power Leone’s Market Development Manager, Emmanuel Harding, outlined severe macroeconomic pressures affecting operators, noting that shifting exchange rates significantly impact the cost of importing specialized equipment, servicing dollar-denominated loans, and managing operational losses. To assure the public of absolute fairness, Alfred Kaima, Head of Economic Regulation at SLEWRC, explained the Commission’s rigorous assessment methodology. He emphasized that SLEWRC does not merely accept operator requests; rather, it subjects all applications to independent technical reviews of expenditures, system losses, and service quality before granting approvals. As consultations advance across the provinces, SLEWRC remains committed to achieving an equitable regulatory middle ground that safeguards rural consumers while ensuring utility provider viability.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Refutation of Unauthorized Notice Dated 18th June, 2026.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Refutation of Unauthorized Notice Dated 18th June, 2026. June 29, 2026 FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) issues this official disclaimer to inform the general public, water factories, and water production companies that a notice circulating dated 18th June, 2026, titled “NOTIFICATION OF LICENCE AND QUALITY INSPECTION EXERCISE” is entirely fraudulent, unauthorized, and does not originate from the Commission. The Commission categorically refutes the said notice and advises stakeholders that it represents a clear case of impersonation aimed at misleading the public and water producers. Before this time, SLEWRC issued an official public notice on the 10th day of June, 2026, communicating the approved frameworks for upcoming compliance and enforcement exercises for water production facilities. Please note that SLEWRC is the sole statutory body mandated by law to regulate, inspect, and enforce compliance in the water production sector. No other entity, including ministries or agencies, holds the authority to conduct these exercises independently without the joint coordination and leadership of the Commission. In this regard, the public, water factories, and production companies are hereby advised to completely DISREGARD the fraudulent notice and treat it as null and void. Anyone who receives or is served with this fraudulent notice should report the matter immediately to the Commission or the nearest police station. For further inquiries, please contact the Commission through our official channels at +23278359299 or visit our headquarters at 1 Samuel Bannister Drive, Wilberforce, Freetown.