About – Tonga Energy Commission

The Tonga Energy Commission (TEC) is the Kingdom of Tonga's independent statutory regulator for the energy sector. TEC was established under the Energy Act 2021, which the Legislative Assembly enacted on 26 August 2021 and which received Royal Assent from His Majesty King Tupou VI on 22 November 2021.

The Act provides the first comprehensive legal framework for Tonga's energy sector, extending the Commission's regulatory mandate beyond electricity (previously governed by the Electricity Act 2007) to cover petroleum, gas and renewable energy as well. TEC's principal objective is to ensure a safe, continuous, secure and affordable supply of energy to all consumers in the Kingdom, while supporting Tonga's commitment to reach 70% renewable electricity generation by 2030.

2021 Energy Act enacted 26 Aug 2021, Royal Assent 22 Nov 2021

70% Renewable energy target by 2030

5 Commission members: 1 Chairperson + 4 Members appointed by Cabinet

Our Mandate

Functions of the Commission

Under the Energy Act 2021, the Commission regulates the whole energy sector on behalf of Tongan consumers.

Ensure a safe, continuous and uninterrupted supply of electricity to all consumers
Keep the cost of electricity, petroleum and gas as low as reasonably possible
License electricians and set standards for electrical safety
Regulate petroleum and gas importation, storage and distribution
Set and review electricity tariffs, including Lifeline discount schemes
Support Tonga's transition to renewable energy and its 70% by 2030 target
Enforce codes of practice and efficiency standards on licensed operators
Represent Tonga regionally through the Office of Pacific Energy Regulators Alliance (OPERA)

View Full Regulations

Leadership

Our Team

SL

Chief Executive Officer

Col (Retd) Siamelie Latu

CEO, Tonga Energy Commission — appointed August 2022

Col (Retd) Siamelie Latu has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Tonga Energy Commission since August 2022, leading the Commission through the significant regulatory changes introduced by the Energy Act 2021. He was reappointed to the role in January 2026.

Before joining TEC, Col (Retd) Latu had a distinguished career in public service. He served as Deputy Commander and Joint Operation Commander of His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) of the Kingdom of Tonga, and was Tonga's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 2010 to 2015. He later served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for seven years, including as Acting Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, until 2017.

He holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies from the University of New England, Australia, and a Master of Defence Studies from the University of Canberra, awarded through the Australian Army Command and Staff College. In 2022 he was elected Chair of the Office of Pacific Energy Regulators Alliance (OPERA), representing Tonga's role in regional energy regulation.

Read Full CEO Profile

•••

To be announced

Director, Regulatory Affairs

•••

To be announced

Manager, Licensing & Compliance

•••

To be announced

Manager, Corporate Services

•••

To be announced

Manager, Tariffs & Consumer Affairs

Team member profiles are updated regularly. Add staff under Team Members in the WordPress dashboard to replace these placeholders.

Governance

The Commission

The Commission consists of a Chairperson and four Members, appointed by Cabinet. Under the Energy Act 2021, appointees must be qualified by their knowledge of, or experience in, industry, commerce, economics, law, accountancy, public administration or consumer affairs. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Commission and implementation of its regulatory decisions.