CHAPTER 74:11
BOTSWANA ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
PART I
Preliminary
1. Short title
2. Interpretation
PART II
Establishment and functions of Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority
3. Establishment of Authority
4. Objectives of Authority
5. Functions of Authority
6. Specific functions and powers of Authority
7. Seal of Authority
8. Board of Authority
9. Powers and functions of Board
10. Tenure of office
11. Disqualification, removal and resignation of members
12. Suspension of member
13. Vacation of office
14. Filling of vacancies
15. Remuneration and allowances
16. Restrictions on members
PART III
Meetings and proceedings of Board
17. Meetings of Board
18. Disclosure of interest
19. Confidentiality
20. Committees of Board
21. Signification of documents
22. Co-opted members
PART IV
Staff of Authority
23. Chief Executive Officer
24. Secretary to Board
25. Appointment of staff
PART V
Financial provisions
26. Funds of Authority
27. Strategic and annual plans
28. Provision of information
29. Financial year
30. Accounts and audit
31. Annual report
32. Pension and other funds
PART VI
Licensing of regulated activities
33. Regulatory framework
34. Service providers to be licensed
35. Licensing of electricity sector activities
36. Licensing of natural gas sector activities
37. Licensing of petroleum sector activities
38. Exclusive licence
39. Issue of licence
40. Assessment of application for licence
41. Authorisation to construct infrastructure
42. Application through tendering process
43. Validity of licence
44. Conditions of licence
45. Licensed for more than one activity
46. Suspension and revocation of licence
47. Transfer of licence
48. Bankruptcy, insolvency, etc. of licensee
49. Change of ownership by licensee
50. Continuation of service in public interest
51. Fees
PART VII
Supervision and investigation by Authority
52. Supervision by Authority
53. Investigation by Authority
54. Search of premises
55. Enforcement
PART VIII
Tariff regulation and review
56. Continuation of tariffs
57. Review of tariffs
58. Tariff methodology
59. Subsidies
60. Recoverable cost by single buyer
61. Notice of approved tariffs
PART IX
Miscellaneous provisions
62. Competition rules
63. Consumer complaints
64. Investigation of complaints
65. Compensation
66. Power to obtain information
67. Power to hold inquiries
68. Use of information
69. Indemnity
70. Public register
71. Appeals
72. Continuity of service
72A. Continuity of service
73. Offences
74. Regulations
75. Savings and transitional provisions
Act 13, 2016,
S.I. 125, 2016,
S.I. 129, 2016,
S.I. 89, 2017,
Act 4, 2020,
S.I. 70, 2020,
Act 30, 2022,
S.I. 98, 2023.
An Act to provide for the establishment of Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority, its mandate, the regulation of the energy sector, and for matters incidental thereto.
[Date of Commencement: 28th November, 2016 (Parts I, II and VI and section 75); 1st September, 2017 (All the remaining sections)]
PART I
Preliminary (ss 1-2)
This Act may be cited as Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority Act.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
"authorisation procedure" means the procedure prescribed by the Authority for authorising the construction of electricity generating capacity and significant infrastructure;
"Authority" means the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority established under section 3;
"Board" means the Board of the Authority established under section 8;
"Chief Executive Officer" means the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority appointed under section 23;
"commercial trading stocks" means petroleum products sourced for purposes of ongoing daily national consumption;
[30 of 2022, s. 2.]
"consumer" means the end-user of a product or service under the regulated sector;
"customer" means a person who is provided with a service or buys a product from a licensee for purposes of selling or providing the service to a consumer at a tariff under the regulated sector;
"energy sector" means sectors dealing with electricity, petroleum products, coal, natural gas, bio-energy, solar energy, renewable energy resources and other energy resources;
"licensed activity" means an activity licensed under Part VI;
"licensee" means a person licensed under this Act;
"member" means a member of the Board;
"petroleum products" means wholesale or retail oil, petrol paraffin, liquefied petroleum gas, diesel and any products specified as such by the Authority;
"public body" means an organisation, establishment or body created by or under any enactment and includes any company in which Government has equity shares or any organisation or body where public moneys are used;
[30 of 2022, s. 2.]
"regulated entity" means a licensee, operator, supplier and any other entity involved in the provision of service or activity in the regulated sector;
"regulated sector" means the energy sector;
"regulated sector legislation" means any of the following—
(a) the Electricity Supply Act (Cap. 73:01);
(b) the Mines and Minerals Act (Cap. 66:01);
(c) the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act (Cap. 67:01);
(d) the Botswana Power Corporation Act (Cap. 74:01);
(e) the Control of Goods, Prices and Other Charges Act (Cap. 43:08); and
(f) any other legislation that applies to, is used in or is relevant to the regulated sector;
"significant infrastructure" means infrastructure that is delivered by a project or works that the Authority considers to be of a size or complexity that would require a bidding process for consumers to receive a better tariff or service;
"strategic petroleum reserves" means petroleum products stockpiled to supplement daily national consumption during periods of supply disruptions or emergencies, for purposes of ensuring security of supply;
[30 of 2022, s. 2.]
"tariff" means a price or charge imposed on goods or services; and
"tendering procedure" means the procedure determined by the Authority, for conducting a tender for the procurement of an electricity generating capacity or significant infrastructure.
PART II
Establishment and functions of Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (ss 3-16)
(1) There is hereby established a body to be known as the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority.
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate with a common seal, capable of suing and being sued in its own name and, subject to the provisions of this Act, of performing such acts as bodies corporate may, by law, perform.
The Authority shall be responsible for providing an efficient regulatory framework for the regulated sector in accordance with this Act, with the primary mandate of providing the economic regulation of the sector.
The Authority shall be responsible for—
(a) ensuring sustainable and secure supplies in the regulated sector;
(b) setting and maintaining service standards;
(c) ensuring that tariffs in the regulated sector are fixed on the basis of a tariff methodology that has been set up in a transparent manner taking into account Government policy on cross subsidies between classes of consumers;
(d) ensuring that interests between consumer, customer and licensee are adequately balanced;
(e) protecting and preserving the environment; and
(f) ensuring that the regulation of the energy sector is done in accordance with the best international regulatory practice.
6. Specific functions and powers of Authority
(1) The Authority shall perform functions conferred on it by any regulated sector legislation.
(2) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1), the Authority shall have the following specific functions—
(a) regulate tariffs, including allowed revenue, for regulated entities in the regulated sector;
(b) regulate coal supply agreements between collieries, coal suppliers and price-regulated generators;
(c) subject to the regulated sector legislation, to license activities in the regulated sector;
(d) regulate network access for independent power producers, privately financed projects in the regulated sector;
(e) provide advisory technical expertise on tender procedures to the Public Procurement and Public Asset Disposal Board established under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (Cap. 42:08);
(f) regulate network access and storage systems access in natural gas network, gas storage, oil pipelines, petroleum pipelines and storage of oil and petroleum products including third party access to energy, transport and storage infrastructure;
(g) monitor the performance of the regulated entities in relation to levels of investment, availability, quantity, quality and standards of service, pricing, costs of services, efficiency of production, distribution and supply of service and any other matter decided upon by the Authority;
(h) where relevant and so far as is practicable, ensure that the regulated entities have and maintain the resources to provide services and are otherwise fit and proper persons to provide the service;
(i) oversee project development in the regulated sector;
(j) implement policy in relation to the generation of electricity from renewable energy resources, as may be advised by the Minister;
(k) process applications for and issue licences, permits and authorisations for the regulated sector as may be prescribed;
(l) monitor and inspect licensees and enforce licence obligations;
(m) impose administrative sanctions, issue and follow up enforcement procedures to ensure compliance with conditions of licences, permits and authorisations;
(n) hear complaints and disputes from customers, consumers and regulated entities and resolve the disputes and complaints or facilitate dispute resolution;
(o) ensure that the needs of low income, rural or disadvantaged groups or persons are taken into account;
(p) take regulatory decisions in an open, transparent, accountable, proportionate, and objective manner; and
(q) perform all additional functions and duties as may be conferred on it by any written law.
[Act 4 of 2020, s. 2.]
(1) The seal of the Authority shall be such device as may be determined by the Board and shall be kept by the Chief Executive Officer.
(2) The affixing of the seal shall be authenticated by the Chief Executive Officer or any other person authorised in that regard by a resolution of the Board.
(3) Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed by a person not being a body corporate would not be required to be under seal, may be entered into or executed without seal on behalf of the Authority by the Chief Executive Officer or any other person authorised by the Board to do so.
(1) The powers and functions of the Authority shall be exercised and performed by the Board, which shall be governing body of the Authority.
(2) The Board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Minister.
(3) Membership of the Board shall consist of persons suitably qualified in disciplines relevant to the regulated sector.
(4) The Minister shall appoint, from amongst members, the Chairperson of the Board.
(5) The Deputy Chairperson of the Board shall be elected by members from amongst their number.
(6) The Chief Executive Officer shall be an ex-officio member of the Board but shall not have any voting rights.
[Act 4 of 2020, s. 3.]
9. Powers and functions of Board
(1) The Board shall ensure, so far as is practicable, that services provided in the regulated sectors are safe, reliable, efficient and affordable.
(2) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1), the Board shall—
(a) be responsible for the general control of the performance and management of the undertakings and affairs of the Authority;
(b) be responsible for the effective regulation of the regulated sectors;
(c) advise the Minister on policy matters concerning any regulated sector and regulated sector legislation; and
(d) review, where necessary, the objects and purposes of the Authority and recommend, to the Minister, such changes, consequent upon such review, as it considers appropriate.
[Act 4 of 2020, s. 4.]
(3) The Minister may give the Board directions, of a general or specific nature, which directions shall not be inconsistent with this Act or with the contractual or other legal obligations of the Board, and the Board shall give effect to any such direction.
All members—
(a) shall be appointed by the Minister for a maximum period of five years on such terms and conditions as may be specified in their instrument of appointment, provided that the appointments shall not expire on the same date; and
(b) may be considered for re-appointment for a further term, not exceeding five years.
11. Disqualification, removal and resignation of members
(1) A person shall not qualify for appointment as a member or continue to hold office if he or she—
(a) is at the time of appointment, a member of the National Assembly, councilor or a member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi;
(b) has in terms of any law in force in any country—
(i) been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt and has not been discharged or rehabilitated, or
(ii) made an assignment, arrangement or composition with his or her creditors, which has not been rescinded or set aside;
(c) has, within a period of 10 years immediately preceding the date of his or her appointment, been convicted of a criminal offence—
(i) in Botswana, or
(ii) outside Botswana, which if committed in Botswana, would have been an offence,
and sentenced to at least six months imprisonment without the option of a fine, and has not received a free pardon irrespective of whether the sentence has been suspended;
(d) has, within a period of 10 years immediately preceding the date of his or her appointment, been disqualified or suspended by a competent authority from practising a profession on the grounds of misconduct or negligence; or
(e) is a holder of licence or has an interest in a licence issued under this Act.
(2) The Minister shall remove a member from office, if the member—
(a) becomes subject to a disqualification under subsection (1);
(b) has failed to comply with the provisions of sections 18 and 19;
(c) is convicted of an offence under this Act, or under any other Act and after a period of 30 days, from the date that a ruling against the member is made on all appeals made in respect of the conviction, he or she is sentenced to imprisonment for a term of six months or more without an option of fine;
(d) is absent, without reasonable cause, from three consecutive meetings of which that member has had notice;
(e) is found to be physically and mentally incapable of performing his or her duties efficiently, and a medical doctor has issued a medical certificate to that effect;
(f) becomes the holder of a licence or acquires any interest in a licence issued under this Act;
(g) commits a material breach of the codes of professional conduct and ethics; or
(h) contravenes the provisions of this Act or otherwise misconducts himself or herself to the detriment of the objectives of the Authority.
(3) For purposes of subsection 2(h) "misconduct" includes any act, done by a member without reasonable excuse, which—
(a) amounts to a failure to perform in a proper manner, any duty imposed on him or her as such;
(b) is prejudicial to the efficient carrying out of the functions of the Authority; or
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