Some citizens in Monrovia and its environs have called on the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to increase meter supplies to curtail power theft in Liberia. Speaking to a team of independent investigative journalists who conducted a survey over the weekend in various communities, they disclosed that the low supplies of meters have led to an increase in power theft.
Speaking to journalists, the principal of the Academic Treasury Academy (ATA), Ponnyenneh D. Jlay, Sr., said that if meters are available, it will reduce power theft in the country.
He said Liberians are willing to contribute to the interest of development if the meters are available to customers, and it will increase the business climate in the country.
He allegedly said that most households in West Point are engaged in power theft, and according to him, people who were trained by LEC are also involved in power theft.
According to him, some Liberians can appreciate that LEC has reduced the cause, but people are still stealing from the corporation, stating, “We are appealing to the LEC management team to enforce an Anti-power theft unit to curtail power theft.”
Also speaking to journalists, a businesswoman who sells dry fish in West Point, Madam Ijaha Nah, said, “If the current is stable, we will be able to dry our fish and we will not use wood to dry fish, as we depend on LEC.”
“Collectively, we can cut down power theft and raise more revenue that will benefit the country and not individuals.
If the community people protect their light poles and more meters are available, power theft will be reduced in the country; LEC’s responsibility is to ensure that efficient, reliable, and affordable electric power is available to its citizens,” she added.
Also speaking to the media, Pastor Alex B. Lake, a resident of West Point and the owner of God’s Divine Conquerors Ministry, disclosed that if LEC is stable, it will reduce power theft.
He said power theft should be collectively engaged by all Liberians, and should not be left alone with LEC management.
For his part, the Executive Director for Commercial and Regulatory for Customer Services at Liberia Electricity Corporation, M. Hady Sherif, said LEC customer service is working overtime to respond to its customers’ requests.
“Management is doing everything in its power to reduce power theft and bring in more meters in the country, and LEC management will ensure that efficient reliable Electricity is stable in Liberia; Liberians need to be patient and not engage in power theft,” he said.
According to him, LEC has a call line center for customers for different reasons; the center is available to give customers updates on some of the activities, and he also has a walking center where customers walk in to do business.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director told journalists that LEC is engaged in community awareness on the effects of power theft, noting that power theft is making the corporation lose more revenue.
