APPROVED TARIFF BY SIERRA LEONE ELECTRICITY AND WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION FOR SIERRA LEONE WATER COMPANY (SALWACO) EFFECTIVE 15th JUNE 2022
News Brief‼️‼️‼️ The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) on the 12th May, 2022 approved the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO)’s proposed tariff that was submitted to the Commission. The tariff structure was approved at a board meeting held on the 12th of May, 2022 in fulfilment of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission’s Act of 2011, Section 45(1). The approved tariff will be effective the 15th of June 2022.
APPROVED TARIFF BY SIERRA LEONE ELECTRICITY AND WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION FOR ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLY AUTHORITY (EDSA) EFFECTIVE 1st. October 2023
The above tariff structure was resolved at the board meeting on 26th September 2023 in the fulfillment of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act 2011, Section 45(1)
SLEWRC HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE ON AGREED FACTORY PRICE FOR SACHET/PACKAGED WATER
Proper Pricing of water changes consumption preference, motivates consumers to use water much more efficiently, and higher prices have unfavorable effects on low-income households. Putting the right price on the water will encourage people to waste less, pollute less and ensure its availability. The right price can encourage efficiency and investment thus, the reason for the Commission holding stakeholders’ engagement on the commission’s mandate and price harmonization to benefit water sachet producers and consumers. A press conference was held at the Commission’s headquarters, 55 Berwick Street in Freetown on Friday 27th May 2022 in which media houses were adequately informed about the shift in the price of sachet water ranging from factories, distributors, and the maximum purchasing price of the final consumers. The Director-General, Dr. Emmanuel Mannah in his opening statement, stated that the last tariff adjustment for the sachet water producers was in 2019 and at a rate of Le 3,500 and despite the high increase in the price of materials they have been addressing consumer demand. Stating that the water union apply to the Commission for an increase in tariff as a result of the variance in the prices of their production materials and they cannot continue to run at loss. As a Commission with the mandate to regulate the provision of the highest quality of electricity and water services to consumers; providing guidelines on rates chargeable for the provision of electricity and water services; and charged with the responsibility to carry out regular reviews of rates and changes, have done the technical analysis on the water union tariff application and have agreed to come up with the following prices both in the interest of the consumers and producers. Distributors are expected to receive factory price of Le: 4,500 and sell at a price not exceeding Le:5,000, while end users/ consumers are expected not to buy more than Le: 6,000. Director of Economic Regulation, Mr. Brima Bah, emphasized that these new tariffs comply with the Sachet and Water Regulation Rules and any producers who does not comply with these rules will not be a beneficiary of these new tariffs. The public relations officer(PRO) for the Water Union, Mr. Max Jalloh, commended the Director-General and team for their tireless efforts to keep water producers alive in their struggle. He also urged producers to comply with the new rates set by the Commission. The press conference was attended by representative, Mr. Christian Lawal, Ministry of Trade, and Industry, a representative, Mr. Ibrahim M. Kabia, of the Consumer Protection Agency, and a representative of various media including print and broadcast media, and Commission staff. Courtesy of the Consumer and Public Affairs Department, SLEWRC
COMPLIANCE TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR WATER PRODUCERS IN BO CITY
The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission on Friday 11th March 2022 held a compliance training workshop for sachet and bottled water producers at the Sidami Memorial Hall at New Gerihun Road in Bo city to ensure safety practices by the producers. The delegation from the SLEWRC was led by the Director-General, Dr. Emmanuel Mannah who, in his opening statement, stated that the purpose of the compliance training was as a result of the unacceptable practices of water producers in the industry. He expressed the hope that the training would aid producers to grasp full knowledge on the appropriate and acceptable practices that would be safe and fit for consumption. The Director-General further mentioned that factories operating without the SLEWRC license were not qualified to produce water and circulate it for consumption. Dr. Mannah thanked representatives from the various agencies, institutions, and specifically the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Water for their commitment and reliable support. A brief background of the Commission and its operational pillars (quality, market-entry, and tariff or rate setting) was then given by the Acting Deputy Director-General. He stated that the Commission is mandated to ensure that operators and producers provide services or products that are of the highest quality for consumption, adding that the Commission sets rates and tariffs for entities in the regulated electricity and water industries and also provides an open platform for individuals or investors who wish to engage in either electricity or water service businesses. Representatives from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone Standard Bureau, SALWACO, and WASH, also made statements on their role in the sachet and bottled water production process. The training workshop was chaired by Commissioner Juana P. Moiwo who commended the Director-General and team for their relentless effort in ensuring that the lives of Sierra Leoneans are protected against water-borne diseases. Representatives
EWRC CONDUCTS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY
PUBLIC NOTICE: EWRC CONDUCTS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission wish to bring to the attention of the public that its personnel are currently conducting a Customer Satisfaction survey and is hereby calling on all to give these persons the utmost cooperation during this period. The survey is aimed to assess improvements, if any in the water service delivery by Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) over the past two years. With this background, the Commission is conducting a survey to ascertain the quality of service, water availability and consumers overall satisfaction of the different service levels. The survey also hopes to provide an independent opinion on the level of service delivery in Freetown by Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC). Thus, this survey shall analyze the perception of customers’ satisfaction as the Commission prepares to review or implement a cost reflective tariff adjustment for GVWC. Areas to be covered include the East, East Central and West Zones. It should be noted that the SLEWRC personnel conducting the survey will be appropriately attired complete with an identification card and branded vests. For further information, please contact the Commission at its 55 Berwick Office in Freetown or on +23278359299. Signed Emmanuel Mannah, Director General