- The African Development Bank, in collaboration with the Kenya Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), convened a high-level peer learning session for African electricity regulators in Nairobi to strengthen tariff-setting frameworks and enhance regulatory capacity in support of universal energy access under Mission 300.
Held as a side event to EPRA's 7th Annual Regional Research and Innovation Conference, the one-day session brought together over 15 national regulators, utilities, regional regulators, and development partners from across Africa to exchange practical experiences on best approaches to electricity tariff frameworks, the conduct of comprehensive cost-of-service studies, and the strengthening of stakeholder engagement and regulatory governance.
The peer learning event was hosted under the theme "Strengthening Tariff Setting Frameworks for Advancing Energy Affordability and Security in Sustainable Development."
Speaking at the opening of the session, Callixte Kambanda, Division Manager for Energy Policy, Regulation and Statistics at the African Development Bank, emphasised the critical role of regulators in delivering sustainable energy access across the continent. "Achieving universal access in Africa requires more than infrastructure investment; it demands strong regulatory systems capable of balancing affordability, financial sustainability, and investor confidence. Regulators play a pivotal role in shaping the enabling environment needed to deliver Mission 300," he said.
The peer-learning activity forms part of the Bank's broader support under the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program (AESTAP), through which the Bank is assisting countries in implementing policy, regulatory, and institutional reforms under their National Energy Compacts. This session specifically supports countries benefiting from the Bank's Mission 300 implementation assistance, including those undertaking tariff reforms.
Participants examined Kenya's tariff review framework as a practical case study, with EPRA sharing lessons from its multi-year tariff methodology, public participation model, and performance-based regulatory practices. Discussions also addressed common sector challenges, including political-economic constraints, consumer protection, renewable energy integration, utility financial sustainability, and resource mobilisation opportunities needed to support Mission 300 at large across countries.
The event aligns with Mission 300, the joint initiative of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. As part of this effort, the African Development Bank recognises robust regulatory frameworks as essential to ensuring that expanded access is financially sustainable, investor-friendly, and equitable.
The Bank is currently supporting multiple countries through AESTAP on areas of economic, technical and legal regulation, spanning tools such as tariff-setting reforms, cost-of-service studies, utility performance enhancement, conceptual frameworks, quality of service regulation, network connection policies and broader regulatory strengthening to operationalise commitments under the National Energy Compacts.
By facilitating regulator-to-regulator knowledge exchange, the African Development Bank and EPRA aim to foster stronger regional cooperation, accelerate harmonisation of regulatory approaches, and build a continent-wide network of regulators equipped to support Africa's energy transition.
