Background to the Establishment of a Pacific Islands Energy Regulators Group

Solomone Fifita, DDE, SPC: – solomonef@spc.int

6th Meeting of the PEAG, SPC, Suva16 – 18 November 2015

Energy Sector Plans, Reviews and Studies in the PICTs

•Need for an effective and up to date legislative and regulatory framework

•Oversight, independence, transparency & accountability]

SPC-ADB Pacific and Caribbean Conference on Effective and Sustainable Regulation of Power and Water Services (March 2014)

• Pacific Reforms in SOEs• Need for an effective and up to date legislative and

regulatory framework [oversight, independence, transparency & accountability]

• Multi-sector and autonomous regulators in the Caribbean

• Regional power sector regulator - Eastern Caribbean Energy Regulatory Authority (ECERA)

SECOND REGIONAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC MINISTERS OF ENERGY & TRANSPORT (Aviation and Maritime) – April 2014

•requested ADB and SPC to continue to collaborate in providing technical assistance to assist Pacific Island countries to address their energy sector regulation challenges

SPC RESPONSE

•Energy Policy and Regulation Adviser – March 2015

SPC-IRENA Workshop on Transforming Pacific Island Energy Systems in Honolulu

• Partners agreed to assist PICs in making the organizational, regulatory and legislative transformations required to attract renewable energy investments

• To combat the lack of regulatory expertise in the region and to share best practices, establish a Forum of Pacific Utility Regulators

• Supra-national regional back up support at SPC for countries without a regulator.

• SPC should facilitate cooperation between independent regulators in the Pacific and offer services/training to others without an independent regulator

SPC-IRENA Workshop on Transforming Pacific Island Energy Systems in Honolulu

• Samoa was able to lower its power tariff in 2014-15 by an average of 18%

• Minimal or no impacts on the operation of the power utility

Forum of Pacific Energy Regulators - Models

•PMTA•SEIAPI•PILON•PIRRC•OPERA

PILON• The Pacific Islands Law Officer's Network • http://www.pilonsec.org/• Established in 1982 and meets annually• Focuses on legal issues that are not addressed in other Pacific

policy forums • PILON aims to provide a forum where these issues can be

discussed and progressed at a regional level. • Through PILON, communication and cooperation between law

officers in the Pacific region is enhanced.• Secretariat is based in Apia• Charter – establishment, purpose, membership• Annual Meetings

PILON

• Annual Meetings• Meetings are usually attended by Attorneys-General, Solicitors-

General and senior Crown Counsel or representatives of each • PILON holds meetings annually at its member countries• Each meeting endorse a new Chair and Executive Committee,

who work with the Secretariat to progress issues between meetings and to develop the agenda for the next meeting.

PILON

• Annual Meetings• Meetings are usually attended by Attorneys-General, Solicitors-

General and senior Crown Counsel or representatives of each • PILON holds meetings annually at its member countries• Each meeting endorse a new Chair and Executive Committee,

who work with the Secretariat to progress issues between meetings and to develop the agenda for the next meeting.

PIRRC

•Pacific ICT Regulatory Resource Centre • www.pirrc.org

PIRRC

•2006 - the Pacific ICT Ministerial Forum recognized the importance of pooling scarce resources in the regulation of telecommunications services, and directed officials to approach WB and other development partners with a view to the provision of regulatory and policy capacity development.

•2008 - the WB commissioned a study of the options and the report recommended the establishment of a Pacific Regional Regulatory Resource Centre to provide an efficient and independent source of advice and information to telecommunications and ICT regulators and policymakers and to strengthen the capacity of regulators and policymakers

•2009 - Pacific ICT Ministerial Forum endorsed the recommendation and directed officials to work towards establishing a shared regulatory resource centre for the Forum Island countries

PIRRC

• The Bank subsequently agreed to administer seed funding for the establishment of the Centre provided by the PRIF

•2010 - The meeting of Pacific Regional ICT Ministers endorsed the establishment of the PIRRC to be located at the USP, and the establishment of the Centre Working Group to progress the governance framework of the Centre and report back to countries.

•2011 - The meeting of Pacific Regional ICT Ministers endorsed proposals concerning membership and governance of the PIRRC. With this endorsement, the focus has shifted to the commencement of PIRRC operations.

OPERA

•Alliance of Energy Regulators in the Pacific Region

•Office of the Pacific Energy Regulators Alliance

•International Organisation

OPERA

The Objects of the Alliance shall be provide a forum for energy regulators in the Pacific Region to enhance regulatory decision making and to this end to:

a. Exchange information and experience concerning energy regulation;b. Support the development of energy regulatory regimes in Alliance

member countries; c. On request, to act as mentors to energy regulatory regimes in Alliance

member countries;d. Facilitate the development of locally based training and capacity

building opportunities for energy regulators;e. Organise seminars, workshops or conferences on energy regulation; andf. Promote affiliation with and membership of other regional or

international regulatory organisations.

OPERA

a) Executive Committeeb) Annual meetingsc) Memberships

Thank You