The Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, Birame Souleye Diop, emphasized the need to clearly identify the various stakeholders involved in the electricity sector. Speaking in plenary session during the review of his department's budget, he reiterated "the existence of several entities, such as Senelec, the Public Lighting Management Agency (AGER), and other institutions which, although not all directly under his department, play a key role in the overall management of the public electricity service."

The minister was keen to clarify that "Senelec is a regulated company, whose price levels are set and controlled by a regulatory body. Contrary to some misconceptions, it cannot freely set its tariffs, nor exceed the ceilings imposed on it. It must also respect a minimum income, defined by regulations."

Prepaid and metering problems

Senegal has switched to a prepayment system, in which users purchase the electricity they consume in advance. The minister considers this mechanism "relevant" because it allows for better control of consumption. However, he acknowledges the existence of technical difficulties related to metrology and measurement. In this regard, he explains that the meter functions like a clock: "Over time, it may require recalibration or reprogramming. A recent study by the CRS (Senegalese Regulatory Commission) reports a worrying obsolescence of some meters, which impacts the accuracy of the measurements. This situation, he believes, could explain some misunderstandings or disputes regarding the amount of electricity actually consumed."

Consumption brackets explained

The minister reiterated that electricity pricing is based on three main tiers: “a social tier ranging from 0 to 150 kWh, a second tier from 150 to 250 kWh, and finally a third tier for consumption exceeding 250 kWh. For a long time, the price of the first tier was around 91 CFA francs per kilowatt-hour, while the higher tiers could reach nearly 160 francs.” Reforms have been undertaken in the past, notably in 2022, with the elimination or reduction of a fourth tier deemed too burdensome for households.

Faced with criticism regarding the relevance of a 10% reduction, Birame Soulèye Diop was categorical: "Far from being insignificant, this reduction has a concrete impact on people's daily lives." He indicated that "more than 1,200,000 households consume less than 150 kWh per month, with an average bill ranging between 13,000 and 15,000 CFA francs."

In this context, a reduction of approximately 1,300 francs represents the equivalent of nearly 16 additional kWh. Increasing consumption, for example, from 135 to 152 kWh per month constitutes a real gain for low-income households, he emphasized.

Royalties, VAT and misunderstandings about invoices

The minister also clarified the issue of the fee and VAT. Since the meters remain the property of Senelec, a fee is applied to the first top-up of the month. On the social tariff bracket (0 to 150 kWh), there is no VAT, only this fee. The same rule applies between 150 and 250 kWh. However, VAT is only levied on the portion of consumption exceeding 250 kWh. He therefore called on Senelec to strengthen its communication efforts so that consumers better understand their billing structure and avoid confusion.

Towards a modernization of the charging system

Birame Soulèye Diop also questioned the continued use of a system requiring manual code entry to top up meters. He compared this situation to other services, such as purchasing phone credit or paying tolls, which are now automated. "A specialized company has been called in to study the possibility of modernizing this system. Such a development would reduce the difficulties encountered by users and improve the quality of service," he explained.

Fraud, a scourge with serious consequences

On the issue of fraud, the minister painted an alarming picture. In 2025 alone, nearly two billion CFA francs in fraud were recorded in Dakar and its suburbs. Internal Senelec documents even indicate annual losses of between 100 and 120 billion CFA francs nationwide. "With approximately 2,250,000 customers, Senelec currently only has the resources to monitor about 50,000 households per year."

“At this rate, it would take approximately 50 years to inspect all subscribers, assuming their number remained stable,” he said. The minister deemed this situation completely ineffective and announced that new mechanisms to combat fraud are under consideration. “A report will be submitted to the Prime Minister to define clear instructions and measures better suited to the seriousness of the problem,” he concluded.