The findings of the study would enable ERERA to update, more appropriately, its evaluation report on the countries’ implementation of the reforms on the Organisation of the Regional Electricity Market and determine the degree of impact.

A statement issued by the ECOWAS, and made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said members of the joint ERERA Consultative Committees of Regulators and Operators ended their two-day meeting in Accra recently.

 It said the findings of the study would encourage other Member States to accelerate the electricity reform processes in their countries to benefit their citizens, as envisaged by ECOWAS.

The reform provides for the gradual establishment of the ECOWAS regional power market through the harmonisation of national electricity markets.It also provides for a regional market design at different market phases, open access to the regional transmission network and access by eligible customers.

In addition, it provides for the harmonisation of contractual arrangements relating to cross-border electricity exchanges for the import and export of electricity, among other things.Members of the joint Consultative Committees reviewed the Market Participation Agreement documents for the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market and its accompanying Participation Form.

The Participation Agreement spells out the requirements for admission into the Regional Electricity Market and the obligations of the market participant (who may function as a generator, a distribution company, or as an eligible customer participating directly in the electricity market).

Members of the joint Committees who split into two working groups (Legislation and Licensing Working Group and Pricing and Performance Working Group) during the Accra meeting reviewed the Terms of Reference for these two groups of documents relating to sanctions and wheeling tariffs, respectively.