The Ugandan Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has partnered with GET.transform to strengthen and develop regulations and frameworks for isolated grid systems. The frameworks aim to enable scaling up of mini-grids in the country and encourage private sector participation by ensuring financial viability and investment security. To unlock this effect, ERA and GET.transform are developing mini grid tariff and subsidy frameworks and isolated grid standards.
ERA takes a proactive approach in the development of clear-cut regulatory frameworks for the achievement of universal electrification in line with the Uganda Vision 2040. In developing the frameworks, the goal is to assure that the national development goals are pursued by energy sector stakeholders and that the roles and responsibilities of policy-makers, agencies, private sector and the public are well-defined and efficiently integrated. Another focus lies on the quality, safety and affordability of the electricity services delivered to customers to ensure they drive industrial, commercial and social development both in urban and rural areas.
In developing the Isolated Grid Standards, various specialists have been called in alongside ERA’s in-house experts to address issues like quality of service and supply , grid arrival and integration, system operation standards and a remote monitoring tool. Besides the technical aspects, financial management of mini-grids has been a key topic of discussion around the world. Recognising the contentious nature of electricity pricing, ERA called upon GET.transform to examine the most viable path for the tariff and subsidy dilemma that every mini-grid market grapples with. The final results are scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.