The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, received a three-member delegation from the Energy Sector Regulatory Authority (ARSE) of Burkina Faso. The purpose of this visit was to study the regulatory processes and activities of the PURC. The visit was part of a knowledge-sharing initiative to strengthen the relationship between PURC and ARSE and the regulatory framework for utility regulators across the West African sub-region.

The three-member delegation comprises Jean-Baptiste KY, Chairman ARSE Regulatory Council; Sanon Léonard, Permanent member of the ARSE Regulatory Council; and Ouedraogoo Sidbewinde Ahmed Yachine, also a member of the Regulatory Council. 

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Ishmael Ackah, expressed his gratitude to the delegates for recognizing the Commission’s impact and regulatory efforts within the energy and the water industry and identifying the PURC as a model utility regulator to be understudied. He assured the delegates of the Commission’s cooperation and fruitful deliberations.

During their visit, the Burkina Faso delegation had the opportunity to learn about PURC’s regulatory processes, including the overview of the Commission, Tariff Setting and Methodology, Quality of Service Monitoring, Consumer Complaints Processes, and Stakeholder Management, among other operational activities of the commission.

Speaking about the visit, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Ishmael Ackah, emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge and best practices across the sub-region. Dr. Ackah noted that the visit was a testament to PURC's commitment to promoting excellence and innovation in utility regulation.

The Burkina Faso delegation expressed their appreciation for the warm reception they received and the valuable insights they gained during their visit. They noted that they would be applying the lessons learned to strengthen their regulatory framework and improve the services provided by utilities in Burkina Faso.

Overall, the visit by the Burkina Faso delegation was a positive step towards promoting cooperation and collaboration among regulators in the West African sub-region and improving the quality of services provided to consumers.