ECOWAS Regulators Chart Path for Phase 2 of Regional Electricity Market
Cotonou, Benin — In a landmark gathering on October 22, 2025, the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) hosted the maiden High-Level Meeting of Chairpersons of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to align leadership on the future of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market (REM). The meeting, held in Cotonou, brought together top regulators from across West Africa to discuss strategic oversight, regulatory harmonization, and the operational roadmap for Phase 2 of the regional market.
Regulatory heads from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo attended, alongside operators such as Ghana’s GridCo and NedCo, Sierra Leone’s EGTC, and Togo’s CEET. The West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) also participated, underscoring the technical backbone of the REM.
Experts from ERERA and WAPP presented the current state of cross-border electricity exchanges, outlining the benefits of a unified market—efficiency, reliability, and investment signals—while identifying challenges like synchronisation, congestion management, and tariff convergence. They clarified institutional roles and emphasised the need for transparency, non-discriminatory access, and robust monitoring in Phase 2.
A dedicated session explored the evolving role of NRAs, focusing on pricing principles, surveillance architecture, and statutory mandates. Participants called for a concept note detailing NRA responsibilities in compensation and oversight, and stressed the need for capacity building and clear delineation between national and regional markets.
Discussions revealed a leadership-level information gap and endorsed a hybrid meeting model—annual in-person and quarterly virtual briefings. Regulators sought clarity on compensation, grid reinforcement, and harmonisation of national codes with the REM Code. Guinea-Bissau requested ERERA’s support to establish a regulatory body.
Key proposals include:
- ERERA to issue a concept note on NRA roles
- Formation of a Benin–Togo working group on market delineation
- Development of a digital hub for meetings and materials
- Capacity-building initiatives for NRAs
- Guinea-Bissau to engage ERERA for institutional support
To enhance coordination, ERERA proposed designating a focal person among regulators, nominating Benin’s ARE Chairperson to serve in this role. The meeting marked a pivotal step toward deeper regional integration, with regulators poised to play a central role in shaping a resilient, transparent, and rules-based electricity market across West Africa.
