Authorities of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Authority (LERA) are expected to re-appear before the Liberian Senate on today, February 16, 2022.
The Senate on Thursday, February 10, 2022 resolved that its plenary constitutes itself into a “committee of a whole” and handles the numerous issues in the electricity sector during Wednesday’s hearing.
The Senate’s decision was necessitated by a concern raised by Grand Bassa County Senator, Nyonblee Karnga- Lawrence, informing plenary of LEC’s inability to provide stable electricity in the country.
The Grand Bassa County lawmaker expressed her dissatisfaction over the distribution of current to the consumers which, according to her, has led to conflicts in a number of communities in Monrovia and its environs.
During the debate, senators in session expressed the need for LEC and its regulatory authority to address these issues with facts by explaining why they have not been able to equally distribute electricity to the citizens.
The electricity authorities will also address the US$9 million owed by the Liberian government for allegedly failing to pay for the use of electricity from the West Africa Power Pool from neighboring Ivory Coast.
Grand Gedeh County Senator, Zoe Emmanuel Pennue, had earlier communicated with the plenary of the Liberian Senate, dated January 26, 2022, seeking an investigation of this debt for unpaid use of electricity in Maryland and Grand Gedeh counties.
The Grand Gedeh lawmaker, in his communication, described as untrue that citizens in Grand Gedeh County have refused to pay electricity bills.
According to Senator Pennue, separate accounts have been created by LEC personnel in the county, and wants a full scale investigation before clearing the allegedly unpaid debt.