Electricity Proclamation, No. 141 of 2004

The purpose of this Proclamation is to promote efficient, dependable, safe and economically sustainable electricity operations in Eritrea as well as private sector and community participation in the same. The Proclamation provides for the establishment of the Electricity Regulatory Committee, which is given juridical personality. The composition of the Committee is provide for, and the duties and responsibilities include; to promote efficiency, dependability, cost-effectiveness, safety and quality of services and fair competition as well as private and community participation in national electricity operations; to protect the interests of customers, permit holders and the general public; to initiate and conduct investigation into standards of quality of services provided to customers and monitor standards of overall performance of permit holders, among others. The Proclamation provides that activities relating to the generation, transmission, distribution or sell of electricity for commercial purposes may only be carried out subject to the obtaining of a permit. The Proclamation expressly provides for the regulation of electricity tariffs. The Minister is empowered by the Proclamation to establish a rural electrification fund through the imposition of a levy on all electricity sold, and the fund is to be used to support electrification of rural area and other areas considered economically nonviable.