To enhance quality of life and business growth in Vanuatu by ensuring  reliable, customer friendly electric and water services at reasonable prices, available to all who demand it.

The Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) is the economic regulator of electricity and water services in Vanuatu. URA approves tariffs for electricity and water services for private providers under Concessions Contracts and the State-Owned water enterprise. URA also assists in resolving consumer complaints and advises the Government on policy and legislative matters related to electricity and water.

URA was created in part to promote the consumers long-term interest and to increase access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity and water services throughout Vanuatu.

In the electricity sector, URA monitors the concessions operated by private utilities in Luganville, Port Vila, Malekula and Tanna islands. URA may also regulate the small utilities operating outside the concession areas.

In the water sector, the Public Works Department supplies the town of Luganville and other small communities in the country, and a private company operates in the concession area in Vanuatu’s capital city, Port Vila.

Objectives:

• Enhance rapid access to power and water, especially in outlying and rural communities;
• Contain prices for these services to affordable levels through efficiencies in operations, fuel mix, renewable, IPPs, smart grid, smart metering and competition;
• Create incentive mechanism through pricing and public education to promote efficient use of power and water resources;
• Ensure safe and reliable services through standards of safety, reliability, performance monitoring and enforcement
• Develop mechanism and tools to enhance consumer protection, consumer care and improved relationships between service providers and consuming public;
• Make electricity a vehicle for growth in Vanuatu by offering business competitive prices and reliable supply in the region; and
• Strengthen URA organization structure and skills through training and professional development.

URA is an initiative of the Vanuatu Government with financial support from AusAID through the Governance for Growth (GfG) Program in cooperation with the World Bank.

Please visit the ABOUT THE URA page to learn about our objectives and structure.

LATEST NEWS

UNELCO Electricity Tariff Review - Preliminary Decision - (September 2017)

The Utilities Regulatory Authority issued its Preliminary Decision (PD) on the tariff Application filed by UNELCO in August 2016 (revised in December 2016) in the matter of electricity tariff review for the Port Vila, Malekula and Tanna Service areas.

Read Media Release l Read Related Report

Consumer Complaints and Dispute Resolution Rules and Procedures

The CCDR Rules Case U-0009-14 sets out a clear process for the Authority to dealt with consumer complaints, it receive in accordance with section 19 of the URA Act. The CCDR (as amended) is in force as of 20 February 2017.

Read Related Report

VUI Electricity Tariff Adjustment decrease by 10.44%

The Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) Commission has issued an order to the Vanuatu Utilities and Infrastructure Limited (VUI), to reduce its currently applied tariff of 40.25% Vatu/kWh to 36.29 Vatu/kWh. This is an average price reduction of 10.44%

Read Media Release l Read Related Report

Public Notice - Electricity Tariff Review Filing by UNELCO - (September 2016)

UNELCO has filed a Tariff Application with the Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) requesting review of its electricity tariffs for Port Vil, Malekula and Tanna for the rate period 2016-2021.

Read Notice

Public Announcement:Right to Self-generation of electricity through Solar PV Installations (Published by Daily Issue 4790 21 May 2016)

The Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) is aware that people in Vanuatu have considered generating electricity for self-use using Solar PV installation.

Read Announcement

Utility Billing and Payment Rules (May 2016)

The Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) has sets out the Final Decision and Commission Order issuing the Utility Billing and Payment Rules for Water and Electricity Services URA Case S-0016-14.

Read Related Report

Standards for Solar PV Installations (April 2016)

The Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) Commission has issued the Standards for safe installation and operation of zero export Solar Photovaltaic (Solar-PV) systems (Installation) Case S-0003-15 by electric customers in Vanuatu.

Read Related Report

Port Vila Water Tariff (September 2015)

The Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) has published its Final Decision on Water prices in Port Vila Case - U-0022-14. The final base price issued is 50.54 vatu, a reduction from the current price of 59.28 Vatu.

Read Related Report

Electricity Bill Comparison Report (June 2015)

The URA released its third electricity bills comparison report for the pacific island countries and territories. CEO Hasso Bhatia, PhD said "it is a challenging but useful exercise to gather, compile and disseminate current regional energy prices.

Read Related Report

To see all the media releases and feature stories, visit the NEWS section.