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.
