By Solomon T. Gaye
-Nimba
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) is currently reviewing a notice filed by the Jungle Energy Power (JEP) requesting reconsideration of the recently announced electricity tariff.
This comes after public hearings on tariff and meter cost reduction were held in Nimba and Bong Counties on February 18-19, 2025, where stakeholders, local government authorities, businesses, and citizens voiced their opinions.
JEP’s General Manager, Aleyou Keita, informed the Commission that since January 2025, the price for electricity from CIE (Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Electricité) has increased from $0.15 to $0.16 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Keita is proposing that the tariff for consumers be adjusted from $0.22 to $0.24 per kWh; eliminating the LEC’s 0.1 cent administrative charge, arguing that this move would allow for more efficient distribution of power within its coverage areas.
Furthermore, Keita has suggested that the government of Liberia or LEC subsidize the purchase price from CIE to $0.12 per kWh, maintaining the tariff at $0.23 with a fixed charge of $2.00.
LERC’s Chairperson Claude Katta, explained the purpose of the public hearings pinpointing that when a new tariff is announced and service providers believe certain factors were not considered, they have the right to request a reconsideration.
The Commission then places a hold on the new tariff and holds public hearings to ensure transparency and allow for public participation in accordance with good regulatory practices.
Chairman Katta along with Commissioners Kla-Edward Toomey and Amara M. Kamara, and Managing Director Augustus Goanue chaired the hearings that brought together local government authorities, stakeholders, JEP, businesses, civil society organizations, interest groups and the public from Nimba and Bong counties.
The Deputy Minister for Energy, Charles Umehai, praised LERC for facilitating the hearings, emphasizing the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring collaboration between the Commission and licensed operators to meet the needs of both JEP and its customers.
In December 2024, LERC had previously announced a reduction in the energy charge from $0.25 to $0.22 per kWh, alongside a new monthly fixed charge of $1.25.
The Commission also announced a significant reduction in the connection charge, which has been lowered from US$100 to US$40 for new customers wanting to connect to the grid.
This change is aimed at making electricity more accessible to residents by covering the cost of materials for connections while the remaining costs will be recouped through the revised energy tariff.
However, the Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC) reportedly boycotted the LERC’s public hearing on held with community residents and workers of JEP in Nimba County.
At the program in Gompa at the Liberia International Christian College Campus, the Administrative Assistant to the City Major, Africano Dolo, disclosed that the high cost of tariff and meter, is hampering the smooth running of the city and called on LEC or LERC authorities to intervene.
According to Dolo, “A public discussion geared toward tariff and meter reduction, is a welcoming news and we really wanted LEC authority present here in this public hearing to clarify some national issues pertaining to electricity.”
Speaking on behalf of LERC, the Managing Director, Augustus V. Guanue, boasted over reduction of the tariff from US 25cents to US 22 cents adding that the cost of meter was reduced from US$100 to US$ 40.
Speaking in defense of JEP, Aleou Keita, explained that the abrupt decision leading to the reduction of tariff of is not in the best interest of the company.
“LEC is not treating us good in line with the MOU with JEP to monitor power distribution along the border line between Ivory Coast and Liberia. This is creating hardship in running the company,” Keita said.
“JEP is buying meters from China for US$ 35 apiece and transport it overseas to Liberia. We want the government to subsidize JEP to close some of the gaps created by LEC,” JEP Keita complained.
” The operation cost is US$138, 376.77. If JEP goes by LERC’s mandate on the reduction, the company will be losing US$70, 566. 05,” JEP Managing Director Keita pointed out.
“We are sorry that the authorities of LEC were not represented here. We will come back soon with our finding,” LERC board chairperson Katta noted.
Meanwhile, LERC is expected to make its decision on JEP’s notification for reconsideration in March 2025, with the new rates set to take effect from March 2025 to February 2029.
