Personnel and consumers in the electricity sector are set to experience heightened safety measures following the unveiling of comprehensive guidelines by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). These guidelines, outlined in the Energy (Electricity Incident and Accident Reporting) Regulations of 2024, aim to prioritize safety among independent energy companies, ultimately benefitting both workers and consumers.
The newly established regulations provide a structured framework for incident and accident reporting, ensuring clear guidelines for reporting procedures, defined timelines for notification and submission of reports, mandatory insurance coverage for liability claims, and stipulated fines for non-compliance. Under the Energy-Electricity Licensing Regulations of 2012, a licensee refers to any individual or entity authorized to engage in activities such as importation, exportation, generation, transmission, distribution, and supply of electrical energy.
Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, the Director General at EPRA, emphasized the significance of these regulations during a validation workshop held in Nairobi. He stated, “As we witness growth in grid connections and investments in the electricity sector, these regulations adopt a proactive approach towards ensuring safety for all stakeholders. In line with our mandate to uphold safety and quality in the energy sector, they will not only safeguard the health and safety of electrical workers and consumers but also ensure accountability in the event of incidents or accidents causing harm to individuals, animals, property, or the environment.”
A key feature of the draft regulations is the requirement for EPRA to establish an online reporting system, facilitating ease of reporting for licensees and members of the public through designated Responsible Persons. In the event of an incident, a Responsible Person must assemble a competent team to conduct an investigation and submit a report to the Authority within thirty days from the date of occurrence.
These developments follow the introduction of separate regulations aimed at opening up the electricity sector to private sector investors. These regulations enable private sector participation in various aspects of electricity operations, including generation, exportation, importation, transmission, distribution, and retail supply.
The introduction of these enhanced safety guidelines marks a significant step towards ensuring the integrity and reliability of the electricity sector, fostering a safer environment for all involved parties.
