Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698830406533.pdf (Sierra Leone)
STATUTORY INSTRUMENT Supplement to the Sierra Leone Extraordinary Gazette Vol.

CXLX, No.

91 dated 13th December, 2019 CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRICITY METERING SERVICES PROVIDERS RULES 2019 ARRANGEMENT OF RULES PART I-PRELIMINARY Interpretation Application of rules PART II-APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE Requirement for certificate Multiple certificate Types of certificate Installers Mode of application Application fees Receipt of application 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.


Decision of Commission PART III-DURATION OF CERTIFICATE AND OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS 11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Annual fees Transfer of certificate Duration and renewal of certificate Suspension or cancellation of certificate Register Conditions of certificate Annual report Resolution of dispute PART IV-MISCELLANEOUS Offences and penalties Transitional provision Schedules STATUTORY INSTRUMENT NO.
17 OF 2019 Published 13 day of December, 2019 SIERRA LEONE ELECTRICITY AND WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION (ACT NO 13 OF 2011) CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRICITY METERING SERVICES PROVIDERS RULES 2019 Short title.

In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by section 66 of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act 2011, the Commission hereby makes the following rules.

Interpreta- tion.

PART I-PRELIMINARY 1.
In these Rules unless the context otherwise requires– “Act” means the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act, 2011; “certificate” means the authorization issued by the Commission pursuant to an application for certification under these Rules; “EIA” environmental impact assessment; “ESI” means the electricity supply industry of Sierra Leone; “meter” means a device that measures and registers the integral active energy or reactive energy over a certain interval and may include data recorder but excludes instrument transformers; 2 “metering system” means a meter and the associated current transformers, voltage transformers, metering protection equipment, including alarms, low voltage electrical circuitry, associated data collectors, data transmitters, related to the measurement, recording and transmission to the data collection system, the active energy or reactive energy or both; “meter test station” means a certified test laboratory which has the technical and infrastructural capability to perform accuracy tests for meters and metering systems; “Electricity Act” means the National Electricity Act, 2011 ; Application of rules.
2.

(1) These rules shall apply to a manufacturer, assembler ,importer or installer of energy metering systems.

(2) These rules shall not apply to a licensee who undertakes metering activities itself.

PART II-APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATES AND OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS 3.

No person shall manufacture, assemble, import or install electric meters or metering systems unless that person holds a certificate issued by the Commission for that purpose.

4.
4.

An applicant who wishes to undertake more then one activity under these rules shall apply for a multiple Certificate.

5.

The types of certificates to be issued by the Commission shall be as follows- Require- ment for a certificate .

Multiple Certificate Types of Certificate (a) the manufacturer or assembler's certificate; (b) the importer's certificate; (c) the installer's certificate 6.
(1) The Commission shall categorise installers of systems into the following categories– 3 metering Installers (a) Class A (b) Class B (c) Class C (2)The level of installation works and qualification required for each category referred to in sub-rules (1) shall be as follows– (a) Class A certificate holder may undertake any type of metering installation and shall satisfy the conditions specified in Schedule 2A; (b) a Class B certificate holder is authorized to undertake any metering works within the distribution network and shall satisfy the conditions specified in Schedule 2B; (c) a Class C certificate holder is authorized to undertake metering works only for voltages of 415V and lower and shall satisfy the conditions specified in Schedule 2C 7.
(1) A person who wishes to undertake any activity under these rules shall make a written application in the prescribed form to the Commission.

Mode of Applica- tion.


(2) A person applying for– (a) manufacturer or assembler's certificate shall fill out the form set out in Schedule 1A; (b) importer's certificate shall fill out the form set out in Schedule 1B 4 (c) installer certificate shall fill out the form set out in Schedule 1C (3) An application for a certificate shall be accompanied with all the supporting documents relevant to the certificate applied for.
(4)An application shall be signed by the applicant, addressed to the Commission and delivered by post or email.

Application fees.

8.

The applicant shall submit the application with a non- refundable fee as determined by the Commission and published in the Gazette.

Decision of Commis- sion.

9.

The Commission shall within 10 days of receiving an application issue a letter to the applicant acknowledging receipt of the application.

Receipt of application.

10.


(1) The Commission shall within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application make a decision and notify the applicant of the decision in writing .

(2) An application shall be granted by the Commission unless the applicant fails to meet the technical, financial and managerial capability criteria under the Act and statutory instruments pursuant to the Act.
(3) If the Commission refuses the application, it shall in communicating the decision to the applicant state the reasons for the refusal.

PART III-DURATION OF CERTIFICATES AND RELATED PROVISIONS Annual Fees.

11.

(1) The holder of a certificate shall pay the annual fee as determined by the Commission and publish in the Gazette.

(2) The annual fee shall be paid on or before each anniversary of the date of first issuance.

12.
12.

(1) A holder of a certificate shall not transfer the certificate to another person unless he makes an application to the Commission requesting approval to transfer the certificate.

5 Transfer of Certificate.

(2) Subject to these rules the Commission shall not unduly withhold its approval of transfer.

13.

(1) A certificate shall be valid for a period of 5 years subject to these rules .

(2) Subject to these rules the certificate may be renewed by the Commission at the end of its term.

14.
14.

(1) The Commission may suspend or cancel a certificate Duration and Renewal of Certifi- cate.

Suspension or cancell- ation.

where it is satisfied that - (a) the holder has (i) contravened a term or condition of the certificate; (ii) has given information to the Commission which is false or misleading; (b) it is in the public interest to do so.
(2) When the Commission has grounds for the cancellation of a certificate, it shall give notice to the holder to show cause why the certificate should not be withdrawn.

(3) If the holder of the certificate is unable to persuade the Commission or fails to respond to the notice, the Commission shall proceed to cancel the certificate in accordance with section 35 of the Act.

(4) The Commission shall restore the certificate when the holder remedies the matter that gave rise to the suspension or cancellation.
6 15.

(1) The Commission shall maintain a register of holders of certificate and the type of services they are qualified to Register perform.

(2) The Commission shall publish the list of holders of certificate in the Gazette and on its website.

16.

(1) A holder of a certificate shall ensure that - Conditions of certific- ation.
(a) the metering systems the person manufactures, deals in or installs are fit for the purpose and conform to the Sierra Leone standard as well as satisfy the requirements of statutory instruments relating to grid, distribution and wiring respectively; (b) the requisite level of facilities and equipment are deployed for undertaking the activities; (c) it employs persons with the requisite training, knowledge and competence to undertake the activities authorized.
(2) A holder of a certificate shall provide service that is adequate and non-discriminatory to persons who apply for their services and satisfy the conditions relating to the service.

17.

(1) A holder of a certificate shall submit an annual report to the Commission on meters, metering systems or knocked down parts supplied or installed in each calendar year for each type of activity undertaken.

Annual Report.
Annual Report.

(2) The report shall be submitted on or before the end of the first quarter in the following year.

18.

A certified installer of metering system shall draft a procedure for resolving disputes with its customers and shall submit the draft procedure for the approval of the Commission before implementation.

Resolution of dispute.

7 Offences and penalties.

PART IV- MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 19.


A person who - (a) manufactures, assembles, imports or installs electric meters or metering systems without a certificate; (b) employs or allows to be employed persons not qualified to work in the provision of metering services; or (c) obstructs or interferes with a member of the Commission, officer or a person employed by the Commission in the exercise of powers commits an offence punishable under section 65 of the Act.

20.
20.

A person prior to the coming into effect of these rules who was engaged in an activity requiring a certificate under these rules shall apply for the relevant certificate within 3 months of the coming into effect of these rules.

Transitional Provision.


8 SIERRA LEONE ELECTRICITY AND WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRICITY METERING SERVICES PROVIDERS RULES, 2018 SCHEDULE 1A: APPLICATION FORM FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER OR ASSEMBLER OF METERING SYSTEMS Rule 7(2)(a) Manufacturer Assembler Section A Indicate type of certificate 1.

Full Name of Applicant 2.

ID/Social Security No 3. Business name: 4.

Address 5.

Contact person (if different from applicant) 6.

Telephone number 7.

Email 8.


Indicate whether new application or renewal.

If renewal state current Certificate Number.

9.

List of key personnel 10.

Qualification and experience of key personnel 9 11.

List of relevant documents attached as required under Section B 12.

Description of electric energy meter a) Make: b) Type: whether single or three phase 13.

Annual production capacity 14.


Technical data a)Nominal voltage; b) Operating voltage; c) Accuracy class d) Current rating e) Frequency; d) Operating temperature; e) Storage temperature; f) Lifespan; 15.

Purpose of manufacturing or assembling Section B It is mandatory to provide the following information: 1. Business registration certificate 2.

NRA Certificate 3.

EIA Certificate 4.

Type Test Certificate report 5.

Meter Test Station Test report 6.

Proof of existence or access to facilities 7.

Others.
Others.

Name: Signature: Date: 10 SIERRA LEONE ELECTRICITY AND WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRICITY METERING SERVICES PROVIDERS RULES, 2018 SCHEDULE 1B: APPLICATION FORM FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF AN IMPORTER IN METERING SYSTEMS Rule7(2)(b) Section A 1.

Full Name of Applicant 2.

ID/Social Security No.

3. Business name: 4.

Address 5.

Contact person (if different from applicant) 6.

Telephone number 7.

Email 8.

Indicate whether new application or renewal.


If renewal state current certificate number.

9.

Names and particulars of directors of company 10.

List of relevant documents attached as required under Section B 11.

Description of electric energy meter a) Make: b) Type: whether single or three phase 11 12.

Estimated annual imports 13.


Technical data a)Nominal voltage; b) Operating voltage; c) Accuracy class; d) Current rating; e) Frequency; d) Operating temperature; e) Storage temperature; f) Lifespan; 15.

Purpose of importing/ main customers Section B It is mandatory to provide the following information: 1. Business registration certificate 2.

NRA Certificate 3.

Type test certificate report 4.

Meter test station test report 5.

Proof of existence or access to facilities 6.

Others.
Name: Signature: Date: SIERRA LEONE ELECTRICITY AND WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRICITY METERING SERVICES PROVIDERS RULES, 2018 SCHEDULE 2A-QUALIFICATIONS SCHEDULE 2A: QUALIFICATIONS OF INSTALLER OF METERING SYSTEMS –CLASS A Rule 6(2)(a) Qualifications of Installer of Metering System Class “A” Certificate 12 No of Employee 2 (1) 3 (2) Education Competency MSc Engineering (5 years) BSc Engineering (7 years) HND (15 years) MSc Engineering – 3years BSc Engineering – 5years HND – 10 years Experience in installation, maintenance and accuracy checks of grid meters (above 33 KV) 1.
Experience and demonstrable ability to recognize and effectively deal with hazards related to grid metering panels 2.

Competence in grid metering systems installation, maintenance, calibration, trouble shooting and repairs 3.

Ability to calculate meter constraints, multipliers and summ- ation scheme values 4.
Enhanced safety skills at grid level 4 (2) BSc Engineering– 3 years HND – 7 years Master Electrician -15 years Technician – 20 years SCHEDULE 2B-QUALIFICATIONS OF INSTALLER OF METERING SYSTEMS -CLASS B Rule 6(2)(b) Qualifications of Installer of Metering System Class "B" Certificate No of Employee 1 Education Competency MSc Engineering (3 years) Experience in installation, BSc Engineering (5 years) HND(10 years) maintenance and accuracy checks of distribution network meters (33 KV or below) 13 1.
Experience and demon- strable ability to recognize and effectively deal with hazards related to distribution network metering panels 2.

Competence in grid metering systems installation, maintenance, calibration, trouble shooting and repairs 3.

Ability to calculate meter constraints, multipliers and summation scheme values 4.
Enhanced safety skills at the distribution network level 2 3 MSc Engineering - 1years BSc Engineering - 3years HND - 7years BSc Engineering- 2 years HND - 5 years Master Electrician -10 years Technician - 15 years SCHEDULE 2C-QUALIFICATIONS OF INSTALLER OF METERING SYSTEMS CLASS C Rule 6(2)© Qualifications of Installer of Metering System Class “C” Certificate No of Employee Education Competency 1 1 BSc Engineering (5 years) Experience in installation, HND (10 years) maintenance and accuracy checks of low voltage energy meters of not more than 415V BSc Engineering – 2 years 1.
Experience and demonstra- HND – 5 years Master Electrician – 7 years Technician – 10 years ble ability to recognize and effectively deal with hazards related to low voltage wiring 2.

Competence in metering systems installation, mainten- ance, calibration, trouble shooting and repairs 14 3.

Ability to calculate meter constraints, multipliers and summation scheme values 4.
Safety skills at within a low voltage wiring system 3 Technician – 7 years Electrician – 5 years EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM (This explanatory memorandum is not part of these rules but is intended to indicate its general purport) The statutory instrument is made pursuant to section 66 of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act 2011.This instrument is divided into 4 parts .

Part 1 covers the interpretation and application provisions.
The interpretation provision defines words and expressions used throughout the instrument .The application provision stipulates that the instrument applies to manufacturers, assemblers, importers and installers of energy metering systems but does not apply to a licensee who undertakes metering activities itself.

Part II covers provisions on application for certificate.
The instrument provides that no person should manufacture , assemble, import or install electric meters or metering systems unless that person holds a certificate issued by the Commission for that purpose.

Part III covers provisions on duration of certificates and other related provisions Part IV contains miscellaneous provisions.

MADE this th day of , 2019.

MOHAMED D. B. SESAY, Chairman PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT, SIERRA LEONE EXTRAORDINARY GAZETTE NO.
91 OF 13TH DECEMBER , 2019.