A session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Parliament on Tuesday exposed growing tensions between the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) over finances and control.
EGTC, the state utility responsible for generating and transmitting electricity nationwide, told lawmakers that EDSA owes them NLe 589 million for power supplied over the years. They argued that the mounting debt, coupled with EDSA’s control of their finances, has left EGTC functioning more like a “department” under EDSA rather than as an independent partner in Sierra Leone’s energy sector.
EDSA, which is mandated to supply, distribute, and sell electricity across the country, currently manages all revenues from power sales through a central account. According to EGTC, EDSA uses this account to pay suppliers, cover staff salaries, and make expenditures on EGTC’s behalf, leaving the generation company without direct financial records of its own operations.
All revenues from electricity sales are deposited into a central account managed exclusively by EDSA, leaving EGTC without control over its own finances. The company argues that this arrangement undermines accountability and prevents it from managing its operations independently.
EGTC maintained that under the original structure, EDSA was supposed to pay them for the electricity generated, after which EGTC would pay its suppliers. That process, they said, has broken down, with EDSA paying some suppliers directly while still failing to settle outstanding debts to EGTC.
The company warned that this arrangement has weakened its independence and trapped it in a cycle of debt. To resolve the issue, EGTC said it has approached the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) for approval of a new “No Power Purchase Agreement.” If granted, the deal would allow EGTC to receive direct payment for the power it generates and regain control over its finances.
“We want a new agreement that will give EGTC its long-sought independence. We are appealing for PAC’s support in making this possible,” the representative said
Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma urged the committee not to rush to conclusions, recommending that both EGTC and EDSA appear together before PAC for clarification. The Deputy Chairman, who presided over the session, assured EGTC that the matter will be further investigated and confirmed that EDSA will be invited to respond at a later hearing.
