Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency

Role of RURA in the Water Sector

EAPIC Workshop

1Regulation of Water Services: Role of RURA

By Eng. Jacques Nzitonda

Quick Country OverviewQuick Country Overview

� Bordering Countries: Uganda (North), DRC (West), Burundi (South) and Tanzania (East)

� Surface Area: 26,338 Sq km

� Land: 24,948 Sq km

� Water : 1,390 Sq km

� The relief: Mountainous

� Population: 11,000,000 (density ~ 380inh/km2)

� Pop. Growth is ~ 2.4%

� Urban Pop is about 14%

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Water Resource potentials

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RURA ESTABLISHMENTRURA ESTABLISHMENT

� RURA is a national Regulatory Authority created by Law N°39/2001 of 13/09/2001 for Regulating Certain Public Utilities.

� The law provides to RURA a legal personalityand autonomy in the management of its finances, assets and employees.

� Its an independent institution and has its own official seal.

� The Regulatory Board is the governing organ

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� RURA was created as a result of privatization to provide security of services and to work in transparency in regards to service delivery;

� The law provides to RURA a legal personality and autonomy in the management of its finances, assets and employees (art 3).

� Powers invested in RURA include (art 6): Powers of entry, powers to acquire and obtain information and Enforcementpowers,

� RURA is self-financed with main sources of funds (art 35) being Regulatory fees (1% of turnover), license fees & frequency fees.

� RURA takes unbiased decisions based on sound analysis and without any command or political influence,

� The appointment of officials by the cabinet (Board & DG)

Institutional set up

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� Law empowers the Regulatory Board in the following ways:

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� Set terms and conditions of employees’appointment, dismissal, � Approve the Budget and monitor its implementation� Powers over licenses (issue, suspend, revoke, etc)� Propose legislation� Power over competition� Power over consumer protection� Power to approve tariffs�Type approval� Manage Universal Access Fund, etc.

Regulated SectorsRegulated Sectors

� Public utilities regulated by RURA are:

� ICT (Telecommunications networks and/or telecommunications services);

� Energy (Electricity & Gas) and Petroleum in pipeline;

� Transport;

� Sanitation;

� Extraction and distribution of gas;

� Water

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RURA MANDATERURA MANDATE

The Law establishing the Agency (art 5) gives the following responsibilities to RURA:

� Ensure that certain utilities provide goods and services throughout the country to meet in transparency all reasonable demands and needs of all natural persons and organizations;

� Ensure that all utility suppliers have adequate means to finance their activities;

� Continually promote the interest of users and potential users to ensure effective competition when competition is introduced in the sector and protection of users from abuses of monopoly positions.

8Regulation of Water Services: Role of RURA

RURA MANDATE ctdRURA MANDATE ctd

� Facilitate and encourage private sector participation;

� Ensure compliance by public utilities with the laws governing their activities;

� Advise the government on issues related to Water

� Handle complaints & disputes

� Approve utility rates (Tariffs)

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RURA MANDATERURA MANDATE

POLICY MAKER

CONSUMERSSERVICE

PROVIDERS

SERVICE

PROVIDERS

RURA

Provide good quality service at fair rates

Pay bills on time

Voting

Set Laws and regulations

OBJECTIVES OF REGULATIONOBJECTIVES OF REGULATION

� The aim of regulation is mainly to :

◦ Promote effective competition and economic efficiency;

◦ Protect the financial viability of efficient suppliers;

◦ Promote the availability of regulated services to all consumers including low income, rural and disadvantaged consumers;

◦ Enhance public knowledge, awareness and understanding of the regulated sectors,

◦ Protect consumer interests.

� In order to discharge these duties, the regulator is empowered to:

◦ make investigations in public or private bodies;

◦ issue regulatory measures to enforce sector laws and regulations;

◦ impose penalties when required (in case of violation of the sector regulations governing a public utility, art 50);

◦ Ensure the settlement of disputes relating to regulated services.

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REGULATORY FUNCTIONS IN WATER SECTORREGULATORY FUNCTIONS IN WATER SECTOR

The following are main activities performed:

� Enforce sector laws, regulations and guidelines

� Monitor the quality of service (5),

� Perform Audits,

� Conduct site inspections when required to ensure compliance with sector standards,

� Advise the Government concerning water related issues,

� Advise Service providers on the way to providing their services,

� Keep a database of all water suppliers,

� Educate

12Regulation of Water Services: Role of RURA

Functions CtdFunctions Ctd

� Monitor the sharing of facilities between different utility operators & providers when required,

� Ensure compliance with licenses, permits and concessions requirements,

� Ensure that service providers have access to necessary facilities and services on reasonable terms and conditions,

� Assistance in relation to rates setting,

� Assistance in case of dispute settling and complaint requiring technical inputs,

� Monitor the performance of the sector in relation to –

◦ levels of investment;

◦ availability and standards of services;

◦ the cost of services;

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Audits and InspectionsAudits and InspectionsAudits and inspections are the main responsibility & aim to:

� Source protection: Catchment, Intake (source)

� Water Production� Technology of treatment processes (coagulation, flocculation,

sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, storage, etc.)

� Laboratory� Sampling, testing methods and procedures,

� Laboratory with adequate equipments & staff,

� Quality test results in compliance with drinking water standards,

� Laboratory good practice

� Availability of Logbook ,

� Staff training, Filing, etc.

• Distribution (QoS & Infrastructures)

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Water Supply chainWater Supply chain

Source water

Production

Distribution

Transport - Raw water

Transport – Treated water

extraction

water treatment

Catchment protection, GW protection, land use, mgt plans

Audits and Inspections ctdAudits and Inspections ctd

• Infrastructures (Status & Technology),

� Pumps & dosing equipments,

� Treatment chain: Clarifiers, filters & filter materials,

� Storage, standby generators, etc

� QoS� Quality

� Quantity

� Reliability

� Access to supply (Coverage),

� Billing

� Complaints handling

� Logbook”

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PumpingPumping� Purpose◦ maintain pressures in the system

◦ fill high elevated reservoirs

◦ supply from low elevated reservoirs

� Location◦ source,

◦ treatment plant

◦ within the system (‘booster pumps’)

� Types & capacity� Arrangement of units◦ in parallel (wide demand range)

◦ in series (wide elevation range)Parallel pumps

Water Quality Water Quality

• equipment for water analysis;

• Sampling methods and numbers of samples taken;

• Process and procedures;

• Staff competence

• Records keeping

• Priority given to microbiological standards

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StorageStorage� Purpose◦ meet constant supply with variable

demand

◦ provide emergency supply

◦ maintain stable pressures

� Elevation◦ underground

◦ ground level

◦ elevated (water towers)

� Volume◦ depends on demand pattern, safety

requirements and pumping schedule

◦ 20-50% of maximum day consumption

Water tower in EWSA Ngoma, 2010

Service LevelsService Levels

• Minimum quantity of water to be supplied

• Continuity of water

• Coverage by supplier within their area of operation

• Cost of water supplied

Factors contributing to SustainabilityFactors contributing to Sustainability

� Financial and human resource capacity

� Appropriate technology� Political commitment� Participatory and Gender

approach� Effective Institutions� ……..

Thank you

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