The stealing of power provided by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has become a national menace, with the state power company loosing over US$35 million annually, according to the government in Monrovia.
The upsurge in power theft has prompted President George Manneh Weah to submit a Bill to amend the Penal Law to provide strong penalty for the act.
A communication from the President read during 26 Day sitting of the Second Session of the of the 54th Legislature on Tuesday, submitted an enactment into law by the Honorable House “AN ACT TO AMEND THE PENAL LAW CHAPTER 15, BY ADDING THERETO A NEW SECTION 15.88 TO PROVIDE FOR POWER THEFT.”
The Liberian leader spoke of the serious setback the rising incidence of power theft is causing for the operation of LEC.
Earlier this week, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah said “power theft has the ability to put Liberia backward.”
He said the government was stepping up the fight against power theft through embarking on a robust campaign against the practice.
Minister Tweah pointed out that as the government clamps down on power theft, it will ensure that the monthly electricity bills paid by citizens, government ministries and agencies are realistic and safeguarded.
“There has not been a change in tariff and that may not change until the problem of power theft is addressed through policy reform,” Minister Tweah added.
Besides power theft, the national power company, LEC has been saddled by huge arrears owed the institution, totaling millions of US dollars by government Ministries and agencies.
“When President George Weah’s government took over, it inherited a debt bill of US$6 million and with the goodwill of the President and his support for the MCC compact, he mobilized US$9 million to pay LEC debt.”