What Would Be The Concrete Outcome?
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has embarked on an extensive community outreach engagement that is expected to be held across the country, with the first commencing at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) Anti Power Theft Task Force’s site located in Duport Road, Paynesville City.
According to a press release from the LERC at the weekend, the meeting is a platform created by the Commission to listen and interact with consumers of electricity and address issues of concerns to electricity consumers that include quality services, electricity pricing, among others.
The Chairman for the Board of Commissioners Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo in opening remarks said, the primary job of the Commission is to protect customers and service providers across the country and the will with operators especially LEC to ensure that electricity is safe, stable, reliable, and accessible it is required for better life.
And this is only achieved through regulations, the approval tariffs, and the issuance of licenses to operators in the sector by the Commission, Chairman Sekajipo pinpointed to residents in Duport Road.
Dr. Sekajipo noted that “electricity is life” and the Commission has the responsibility to give back the lives of Liberians; however, noting that electricity is not free but must be paid for by users. He lamented that this cannot be achieved if consumers of electricity are bye-passing meters and stealing electricity.
Also speaking Madam Mary Broh, Director of the General Service Agency (GSA) and Co-Chairperson of LEC’s Anti-Power Taskforce said the fight against electricity theft is a huge responsibility and ready and prepare for the task noting “it is from the top to the bottom of the Liberian society”.
“Trust me, I am ready for the task. LEC must be cleaned from the top to the bottom if the taskforce is to be successful in its fight. It is now time to have a new and improved LEC,” Madam Broh averred.
It is important for people to know that LEC reports to the Commission and can be held accountable. “Information provided here will help minimize electricity theft”, she noted
There is a need to integrate the various electricity projects being implemented by donors and partners within the LEC’s network as this is also responsible for power theft.
Madam Broh thanked the BoC, the Managing Director and staff of the Commission for organizing the event and reaching out to communities interacting and providing information on its work across the country.
The outreach meeting was organized by the Commission in collaboration with the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and Liberia Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI). The LERC team provided information on the work of the Commission, complaints guidelines, tariff, and customer service.
The Managing Director of the Commission Mr. Augustus V. Goanue speaking said the Commission has developed lots of regulations to ensure the smooth operation of service providers and customers and is important the Commission reaches out to the public.
The forum was attended by members of the BoC, Managing Director, the European Union Long Term Technical Assistance team and staff of the Commission.
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission is a statutory body created by the 2015 Electricity Law to oversee and regulate the electricity sector. Principal functions of the LERC are licensing operators, approving tariffs, establishing technical standards and codes, resolving disputes, and issuing regulations in accordance with the Law.