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The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) has on Thursday 21st April 2022 held a public hearing regarding tariff application it received from the Sierra Leone Water Company(SALWACO) at the district council hall in Kenema.
Giving an overview of the public hearing for Sierra Leone Water Company(SALWACO) the commissioner of Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Saidu Bockarie said the public hearing is in accordance with the provisions of section 45 of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act of 2011 which enables utility service providers to review and comment on the proposed tariff submitted by utility service providers in both the electricity and water sector.
He said the public hearing will also opportune the public and utility service providers be heard and their representation taken into account which forms a crucial part for any approval process for rates and tariff revision application made to the commission.
He noted that after the public hearing for Sierra Leone Water Company tariff application to the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, it will help inform the commission’s decision to reject or approve the tariff revision application.
He maintained that the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission is mandated to regulate the utility service providers in the electricity and water sectors in line with the provisions of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act of 201.
Commissioner Saidu Bockarie reiterated that the commission is oftern seen as balancing of interest in it’s stakeholders through the protection of consumers from unfair treatment by utilities, promotion of economic efficiency of the service providers and the monitoring of compliance.
The commercial manager of the Sierra Leone Water Company(SALWACO), Carlne Kamara revealed that if the company is to effectively and efficiently deliver affordable and safe drinking water to it’s consumers, it needs sixty-two billion leones yearly to effectively and efficiently service the water needs of consumers and encouraged the public to support SALWACO in its proposed tariff application to the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission.
He assured the public that once the proposed tariff application is approved by the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, the company can improve on it’s service delivery to the nation emphasing that out of the 100% funds needed to operate effectively, SALWACO can only boast of having 8% of the funds, a situation he described as unfortunate.
The public hearing ended with a question and answer session.
