Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has announced the suspension of the unauthorized ‘expedited connection service fee’ charged by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).
The expedited connection fee of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars (US$150.00) being charged by LEC is not authorized and does not comply with the regulations set forth by the Commission. The LERC said.
The Commission has further mandated that LEC immediately cease the collection of this unauthorized fee from customers seeking expedited connections.
In line with its decision, the Commission has also initiated an investigation to assess the legality of the expedited connection service fee and to determine the basis on which LEC has been charging a fee that was not approved by the Commission.
“We are committed to ensuring that electricity services are affordable and accessible to all Liberians,” said Atty. Kla-Edward Toomey, II, Acting Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
“This decision reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring that all utility charges are fair and transparent.” The Commission has also called for a meeting with the management of LEC to discuss this matter and ensure that LEC complies with the Commission’s directive.
Meanwhile, the Commission is cautioning utilities to refrain from imposing unauthorized fees on customers for the supply of services. The Commission will continue to monitor compliance and take appropriate action against any utility found to be in violation.
Trokon S. Wrepue is a Liberian journalist with 9 years of experience in the practice of journalism. Over the years, Trokon has reported on women and children issues, investigated public and private sectors corruption, environmental challenges and other critical human interest stories. He is currently the Editor of News for OK FM, one of Liberia’s premier media institutions in Monrovia. Besides being a journalist, Trokon is also a Mandela Washington Fellow. In 2022, he travelled to California in the US where he studied leadership, culture and diversities at the California State University. In 2023, he travelled to Johannesburg in South Africa and attended the Mandela Washington Fellowship Symposium of Young African Leaders.
