NARUC - Global Regulatory Network

Profiles

Ethiopia

Ethiopina Electricity Agency (EEA)

• Official website: not yet established.
• Establishment in February 2001, 62 staff members.
• Mr. Ato Getahun Moges Kifle appointed General Manager in February 2001. The government upon the recommendation of the Minister of Infrastructure Development effects the appointment. Office terms are not fixed under the current proclamation.

Principal Responsibilities

• To supervise and ensure that the generation, transmission distribution and sale of electricity are carried out in accordance with the proclamation and regulations;
• To determine the quality and standard of electricity services and the implementation thereof;
• To issue, suspend and revoke license for generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity;
• To study and recommend a tariff and, upon approval, supervise the implementation thereof;
• To issue certificates of professional competence to electrical contractors.

Electricity Industry and Market Structure

Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO), a vertically integrated 100% government-owned monopoly engaged in producing, transmitting and selling of electricity in accordance with economic and social development policies and priorities of the government, responsible for supplying electricity for more than 700,000 customers. About 15% of the population has access to electricity (all residents within electrified towns are considered to have access to electricity).

Current Energy Issues

• Preparation of long-term power sector strategy.
• Establishment of Rural Electrification Secretariat (RES) and Rural Electrification Fund (REF) under the Energy Access Project (EAP). There is a national plan of electrifying more than 100 towns per year.
• Government is dedicated towards development of the huge hydropower potential and other renewable energy sources. To this end, there are different river basin developments amongst which the Nile Basin Initiative is the one.

Key Statistics (2004)

• Population:
70 million

• GDP (US$):
$4.920 billion

• Electricity generation:
hydro: 3.280 billion kWh

• Electricity consumption:
2.689 billion kWh

• Electricity imports:
N/A

• Electricity exports:
N/A

• Installed capacity:
785 MW (98% hydro)

• Electricity prices for households (US$):
5.62¢ per kWh