Eastern Caribbean Energy Regulatory Authority

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT

Meeting of the Regional Energy Sub-Committee (REC)
January 23, 2012 via Videoconference

Background to Meeting:

At the Inaugural REC meeting held on November 9, 2012, the REC formed a Sub-Committee to review and approve the Terms of Reference for the preparation of the ECERA Treaty and review of Participating Countries´ Electricity Supply Acts and other Legislation. The REC agreed that the Sub-Committee would comprise the ECERA Participating Countries, the OECS Secretariat and the World Bank.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT

Meeting of the Regional Energy Sub-Committee (REC)
January 23, 2012 via Video-conference

Background to Meeting:
At the Inaugural REC meeting held on November 9, 2012, the REC formed a Sub-Committee to review and approve the Terms of Reference for the preparation of the ECERA Treaty and review of Participating Countries´ Electricity Supply Acts and other Legislation. The REC agreed that the Sub-Committee would comprise the ECERA Participating Countries, the OECS Secretariat and the World Bank.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT
Eighth Meeting of the Regional Energy Committee (REC)
Held in the Reduit Suite, Saint Lucian by Rex Resorts
May 14, 2014 at 9:00 am
SUMMARY OF KEY DECISIONS

Chair: Grenada

OPENING OF THE MEETING

1. Introductory Remarks. The Chair welcomed all participants and commenced the meeting with prayers delivered by Mr. Barrymore Felicien. He noted the presence of representatives from The World Bank, ECTEL and CARILEC.

MATTERS ARISING AND UPDATES FROM ACTIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE SEVENTH MEETING OF REC – FEBRUARY 10, 2014

2. The Project Manager provided an overview on the grant allocation of US $ 300,000 made available to the OECS Commission to support the

ECERA Project with the objective of enlarging participation in ECERA:

• Regulatory Training. The REC directed the ECERA PMU to seek synergies with CARILEC in hosting the regulatory training. The Project Manager updated the meeting that the training conducted by CARILEC was not as extensive as that negotiated by the ECERA PMU with the Public Utility Research Center (PURC) and did not target the key areas for gaining ‘buy in’ by other Member States.
•  Saint Lucia’s National Utilities Regulatory Commission. The PMU received a copy the draft NURC Bill and attended the national consultations hosted by St. Lucia held in February 2014. The draft Bill was also made available to KEMA Inc., the consultant conducting the Consultancy to Establish the Legal Basis for ECERA.
   Appointment of Focal Points. Saint Lucia confirmed the names of their focal points for the various consultancies.
• Recruitment of Individual Consultant in lieu of Procurement Specialist. Both St. Lucia and Grenada supported the recommendation of hiring an Energy / Regulatory Specialist and agreed that the PMU should move forward with obtaining the necessary approval and clearance from the World Bank. The PMU is to prepare the Terms of Reference for review by both participating countries prior to its submission to the World Bank. Participating countries were invited to propose names and CVs of suitable candidates as this will expedite the process.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY
AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT
Fourth Meeting of the Regional Energy Committee (REC)
July 31, 2013 via Videoconference
9:00am – 1:00pm
SUMMARY OF KEY DECISIONS

Chair: Grenada

OPENING OF THE MEETING
1. Introductory Remarks. The Chair reminded the REC of the important role of the
ECERA to the region and the urgency of a strong legal framework administered by
an independent and transparent energy sector regulator for promoting development
in the region.

ACTIONS AND DECISIONS OF LAST REC MEETING – MAY 7, 2013
2. Project Launch. The Project Manager of the ECERA PMU indicated that the formal
launch of the ECERA Project is still pending and sought clear directive from the
REC. After much discussions, the REC:
a. Confirmed interest in the proposed Project Launch;
b. Agreed that the Project Launch should be held on Thursday November 7, 2013
in Grenada ahead of the CARICOM Energy week in order to optimise the
visibility of the Project; and
c. Encouraged a purposeful approach. To this end, it requested the PMU to
prepare materials and a plan to coordinate activities leading to and following on
from the Project Launch.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT
Fifth Meeting of the Regional Energy Committee (REC)
Held in the Greenery Room, Grenada Grand Beach Resort, Grenada
November 7, 2013
11:00 am – 4:11 pm
SUMMARY OF KEY DECISIONS

Chair: Grenada

OPENING OF THE MEETING
1. Introductory Remarks. The Chair commenced the meeting with prayers and introductory remarks. He reminded the REC of its role in the success of ECERA and of ECERA’s importance to the region. He welcomed participants, and noted the presence of the Observer countries: St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Anguilla.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT
Sixth Meeting of the Regional Energy Committee (REC)
Held in the Castries Room, OECS Secretariat via video conference
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
10:00am
SUMMARY OF KEY DECISIONS

Chair: Grenada

OPENING OF THE MEETING
1. Introductory Remarks. The Chair welcomed participants, and noted the presence of the Observer countries: St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada’s representative Mr. Kristopher Joseph. The Chair commended St. Lucia and Grenada on the excellent hosting of the Official Launch of the ECERA Project in November 2013 in St. George’s, Grenada.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT
Ninth Meeting of the Regional Energy Committee (REC)
held via Video Conference
August 6, 2014 at 9:00 am
SUMMARY OF KEY DECISIONS

Chair: Saint Lucia

OPENING OF THE MEETING

1. Introductory Remarks. The Chair welcomed all participants and apologised for the late start of the Meeting. Apologies were received on behalf of Mr. Thornley Myers, CARILEC and Ambassador June Soomer, St. Lucia. The Chair noted the presence of representatives from Montserrat, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis and the World Bank.

MATTERS ARISING AND UPDATES FROM ACTIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE EIGHT MEETING OF REC – MAY 14, 2014
2. The Project Manager presented the Minutes of the 8th Meeting of the Regional Energy Committee and highlighted the following key point:

a. Recruitment of Individual Consultant in lieu of Procurement Specialist. In compliance with the decision taken at the 8th REC Meeting the Project Manager circulated the TOR for the position of Individual Consultant and invited the participating countries to submit the names and/or CVs of suitable candidates who could fill the position to expedite the process of recruitment. The Project Manager reported that no comments were received.

b. Appointment of Focal Points. The nominees for Grenada are still outstanding. Grenada has undertaken to submit names of Focal Points by the end of the week via email.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON THE ECERA PROJECT COVERING THE PERIOD APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 2014
3. Update on the ECERA Consultancies. The Project Manager updated the meeting on the status of the four (4) studies that are funded by the loan facility.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT
Inaugural Meeting of the Regional Energy Committee (REC)
Held on November 9, 2012 at the Rex Grenada Hotel in Grenada
SUMMARY OF KEY DECISIONS

Chair: Grenada

INFORMATION SHARING AND UPDATES
1. Operational Manual. It was noted that this is a dynamic document which is expected to be updated throughout implementation of the project. A draft Operational Manual has been prepared and will be reviewed and revised by the PMU, as necessary. It was agreed that the proposed revised document would be circulated to the REC for review, comments and endorsement.

2. Communication. To enhance communication, it was agreed that Project Coordination Units in the two current Participating Countries (Grenada and Saint Lucia) as well as the OECS Commissioners should be included in communications (including Decisions of REC meetings and Progress Reports).

3. Staffing. A Procurement Specialist, Project Accountant and Administrative Assistant are expected to join the Project Management Unit (PMU) from around December 15, 2012. To this end, it was agreed that these positions would be on a full time basis. REC agreed that the final outcome on the selection process for PMU staff should be sent to the REC. It was noted that the Project Manager was hired and commenced employment on November 5, 2012.

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE REC
4. Intended Scope and Jurisdiction of the ECERA. The meeting discussed the role of the ECERA as an ‘energy’ regulatory authority versus ‘electricity’ regulatory authority.
i. It agreed that the title of the Project will remain the Eastern Caribbean Energy Regulatory Authority.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN ENERGY REGULATORY
AUTHORITY (ECERA) PROJECT
Meeting of the Regional Energy Committee (REC)
May 7, 2013 via Video-conference
SUMMARY OF KEY DECISIONS

Chair: Saint Lucia
List of Countries and Organizations Participating

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Grenada
• Nevis
• St. Kitts
•  Saint Lucia
•  St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
• World Bank
• ECTEL
• CARILEC
  
  

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS MANUAL
1. Operations Manual – Volume I. This document has been revised and reviewed
internally by the OECS Secretariat. The REC endorsed the document, subject to
minor amendments and considerations (see Minutes for details); and
2. It was emphasized that the Operational Manual may be modified from time to time
to reflect the decisions for ECERA project implementation.
3. Operations Manual – Volume II. The document shall be finalized and circulated to
the REC for approval.

QUARTERLY REPORT – JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 2013
4. The PMU presented the Quarterly Report and noted that it is on target with all
activities with the exception of the Official Project Launch; and
5. The REC approved the Quarterly Report for submission to the World Bank by the
May 15, 2013 deadline, subject to minor amendments which are to be made to
the budget annexed to the report. The revised budget is to be circulated for
approval.