Ellise Darwton
Dominica Electricity Services Limited
Corporate Secretary/Legal Officer
An attorney-at-law of 24 years’ experience, 18 years of which has been served as In House Counsel at the Dominica Electricity Services Limited (DOMLEC), in the dual roles of Company Secretary and Legal Officer. She is an experienced Company Secretary with a demonstrated history of working in the utilities industry. A strong business development professional who is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada (CGIC) [Formerly Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Canada -ICSA] with a Master of Laws – LLM focused in Energy and Infrastructure Law from York University – Osgoode Hall Law School.
Following the enactment of the new Electricity Supply Act in 2006 and the liberalisation of the energy sector in Dominica, has served as principal advisor to the Board and Management on regulatory matters related to the new operating environment. As a member of the Company’s Negotiating Team, successfully negotiated a 25 year exclusive T&D Licence and a 25 year non-exclusive Generation Licence with the Independent Regulatory Commission for the company’s operations, in September 2013.
Provided legal advice and support for the Company’s successful negotiation of a USD 16 million Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Loan with the Caribbean Development Bank, post Hurricane Maria, in March 2018. Further, as a member of the Company’s Negotiating Team, successfully negotiated a 25 year Power Purchase Agreement with the Dominica Geothermal Development Company for the purchase of 7MW of geothermal power to meet the Company’s generation expansion plans, in November 2019. Continues to provide legal advice and support for the ongoing review of this PPA as part of the Company’s negotiating team.
With an avid interest in the development of the energy sector throughout the Caribbean Region, she is member of the Women in Renewable Energy Network (WIRE), a professional development group for women working in energy in island nations in the Caribbean, and in Africa. It was established by the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), to foster greater gender diversity in the development of the renewable energy sector in these regions and to support women’s empowerment in the renewable energy transition. She is also member of the CARILEC Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee whose mandate includes review of energy legislation and regulatory frameworks, performance benchmarking, review of renewable energy markets and Independent Power Producers, and advocacy & government relations.