By Yusufu Sesay
The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) on Friday 19th July, 2024 launched a nationwide energy sensitization campaign to promote and encourage energy efficiency.

Addressing a press briefing held at the EWRC headquarters on Berwick Street in Freetown, EWRC’s Director General, Emmanuel Mannah,

said the move was part of the commission's efforts to educate the public on the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) tariff system and structure in collaboration with EDSA with support from the World Bank.

The Director General reminded the audience about their mandate as regulators to ensure quality of service is met with regards both the water and energy sectors.
Mr. Mannah emphasized the perennial energy challenges nationwide as demand and access to energy continues to ramp up thereby resulting to significant supply deficiency

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The Director General called for the protection of EDSA assets and equipment including substations, noting that their destruction disrupts supply and continues to significantly hamper energy efficiency.

Mr. Mannah also lamented electricity theft and the huge revenue EDSA is losing through illegal extraction of power.

“EDSA needs public support to ensure that it delivers and efficiently solves the problem of electricity in the country,” the DG averred. “The energy distributor continues to grapple with inadequate resources.”

He disclosed that EDSA would be educating the public about challenges in its operations and the ongoing reforms in the energy sector during the nationwide energy sensitization campaign.

Mr. Mannah informed that the commission has shared responsibilities to seek the interest of the public, utility companies and the government as well.

Jenmaa Consulting - data and information management consulting firm - was announced as the contractor of the nationwide energy sensitization campaign and is expected to commence soon.

According to the Principal Consultant of Jenmaa Consulting, Dr. Korsu Kandeh, the nationwide campaign is expected to last for eight weeks, noting that they will be utilizing all channels of communication to sensitize the public about the energy sector