Overview

LEWA - Who are we?

The Authority began its journey in 2004 as the Lesotho Electricity Authority (LEA). This followed the restructuring of the electricity industry, which needed a regulatory body to regulate the sector in the interests of all electricity sector stakeholders. The Authority became a multi-sector regulator in 2011, following the Act’s amendment to extend the LEA mandate to regulate the subsector of urban water and sewerage services. Hence the change of the name from LEA to LEWA. The LEWA was established to regulate the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) and Urban Water and Sewerage Services (UWSS) subsector, where services are not supplied competitively.

The Authority intends to transition from regulating electricity, urban water and sewerage services to energy and sanitation.

The Authority’s funding comes from license fees, customer levies, interest, and other sources of revenue. The LEWA operates within the context of Government policy and must help realise the electrification, and urban water and sewerage targets set by the Government.

Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Key Values

A nation that enjoys affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity and urban water and sewerage services of high quality.

To regulate the Electricity Supply Industry and the Urban Water and Sewerage Services Subsector for affordable, reliable, and
sustainable regulated services in the country.

The core values reflect what the Authority stands for and how it is going to conduct itself. In its quest to comply with the LEA Act 2002 as amended, legislation relevant to regulation, and good corporate governance practices, the Authority has adopted the following core values:

Integrity

We shall uphold independent decisions and practices that are honest, reliable, ethical, fair, and non-discriminatory.

Team spirit

We shall embrace team spirit and engage in extensive consultation with all regulated utilities and stakeholders and appreciate diverse perspectives in the discharge of our duties and functions.

Transparency

We shall ascertain the regulation process is transparent and open to public scrutiny and regulated utilities and stakeholders’ participation.

Accountability

We shall recognize our responsibility to regulated utilities and stakeholders and the public at large and ensure accountability at all levels.

Innovation

We shall always endeavour to seek new ways of improving the services that LEWA is delivering to the nation.

Transformational Leadership

We shall uphold high standards of service delivery to those we serve.

Background History

LEWA (formerly LEA) is a parastatal that was established in terms of the Lesotho Electricity Authority (LEA) Act No.12 of 2002 as amended. The Authority started operating in 2004 as a single sector regulator of the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI). The Government of Lesotho (GoL) expanded the Authority’s mandate in 2011 to regulate the Urban Water and Sewerage Services (UWSS) subsector and changed its name to the Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA).

The LEWA gets funding from licensed electricity operators and a levy paid by electricity customers. The LEWA operates within the context of Government policy and has a duty to help in the realisation of the electrification and water and sewerage s targets as set by the Government.