Electricity Regulatory Commission to Join SAFIR, Expanding Nepal’s Role in Regional Energy Regulation

Nepal’s Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC), the national regulatory authority for the power sector, is set to obtain membership in the South Asia Forum for Infrastructure Regulation (SAFIR). The Cabinet meeting held on Mangsir 8 granted formal approval for the commission to join the regional platform, marking a significant milestone for Nepal’s energy governance.

The ERC had been actively pursuing membership for several years, recognizing SAFIR as a key regional network that brings together infrastructure regulators from South Asian countries. With the government’s approval now in place, Nepal is poised to strengthen its engagement in regional regulatory cooperation.

According to the commission, joining SAFIR will help Nepal gain exposure to global and regional best practices in utility regulation, policy reform, and institutional governance. The platform facilitates exchange of regulatory experience, adoption of effective frameworks, and capacity-building among member nations—areas the commission believes will directly support Nepal’s ongoing efforts to modernize its power sector.

The ERC expects the membership to enhance its regulatory competence, particularly in designing transparent, efficient, and market-friendly policies. It will also enable Nepal to participate in collaborative research, technical discussions, and knowledge-sharing initiatives within the region’s regulatory community.

Officials say the membership will create new opportunities for cooperation with regulatory bodies across South Asia, promoting joint learning, innovation, and coordinated approaches in addressing cross-border energy challenges. The ERC has described the approval as an important achievement that will help Nepal play a more active role in regional energy regulation and long-term sectoral development.