ARSEL was established by Law N ° 98/022 of December 24, 1998, governing the electricity sector. This law was amended and supplemented by Law No. 2011/022 of December 14, 2011, which enshrines the liberalization of the electricity sector in Cameroon. It has the status of a public administrative establishment within the meaning of Law No. 99/016 of 22 December 1999 on the general status of public establishments and companies in the public and parapublic sector.
ARSEL'S MISSIONS
ARSEL regulates, controls and monitors the activities of operators and operators in the electricity sector, within the framework of the policy defined by the Government. It is particularly responsible for:
- participate in the promotion of the rational development of the supply of electric energy;
- ensure the economic and financial balance of the electricity sector and the preservation of the economic conditions necessary for its viability;
- to look after the interests of consumers and to ensure the protection of their rights with regard to the price, supply and quality of electrical energy;
- to promote competition and the participation of the private sector in the fields of production, transport, distribution, import and export and sale of electric energy, under objective, transparent and non-discriminatory conditions :
- to arbitrate disputes between operators or between operators and consumers ...
Because it is a privileged instrument of government policy in the field of electric energy, ARSEL has a flexible organization that allows it to quickly adapt to the context and requirements of the electricity sector. which is constantly evolving.
The organization and functioning of ARSEL are set by Decree No. 99/125 of June 15, 1999. It is administered by two (2) bodies.
The Board of Directors : Composed of representatives of various Public Administrations, employees, consumer associations and Agency staff. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by presidential decree.
General Management : ARSEL is managed on a daily basis by a Managing Director assisted by a Deputy Managing Director, both appointed by presidential decree.
The members of the Board of Directors and of the General Management are high government authorities with the appropriate experience and competence, occupying or having occupied high administrative positions as well as heads of national and international companies.
In carrying out its missions, ARSEL relies on an effective structure whose activities are carried out by five departments, namely:
- The Department of Studies (DE);
- The Regime Management Department (DGR);
- The Directorate of Economic Control and Competition (DCEC);
- The Department of Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection (DAJPC);
- The Department of Administrative Affairs, Finance and Human Resources (DAAFRH);
Each Directorate is made up of sub-directorates and / or services.
The Technical Advisor, the Communication and Public Relations Unit, the Information Technology and Documentation Unit, the Mail and Archives Service, the Translation and Internal Audit Service, are attached to the General Management and complete the organization chart of ARSEL.
ARSEL has decision-making and operational autonomy. It has extensive powers to investigate, control and sanction those who violate the texts governing the sector.