This webinar will explore the challenges and opportunities of electricity retailing in Africa. Traditionally, retailing has been a monopolistic activity controlled by the distribution network owner. However, the low demand in rural areas has led to unsustainable distributor business models.

To address this issue, experts have proposed new business models that involve distributors engaging in commercial activities beyond their core business. These activities, such as selling appliances or participating in industrial activities, can potentially unlock electricity demand and contribute to community development.

The African School of Regulation is organizing this webinar to explore whether distributors’ commercial activities should be encouraged or even mandated and how to avoid the risk that new business models may pose to distributors’ regulated activities.

Webinar Objectives

The objectives of this webinar are to:
(i) provide an overview of electricity retailing in Africa,
(ii) identify and discuss the new opportunities for electricity distributors in Africa,
(iii) discuss whether distributors should be mandated, or incentivised, to engage in the promotion of residential demand growth, productive and community uses.
(iv) discuss how to avoid the risk that the commercial activities pose to the regulated activities.

Target Audience

The webinar is aimed at utility professionals, regulators, developers, development finance institutions, academics, think tanks and professionals working across sectors in various capacities, as well as other professionals interested in the topic.

Panellists

• Nico Petershmidt, INENSUS
• Harold Obiga, ERA
• Riccardo Ridolfi, Equatorial Power

Moderator

• Keno Shiferaw, African School of Regulation