Gbarpolu County – A new energy rate of US$0.45 per kWh for clients of Energicity in Gbarpolu County has been approved by the Liberia energy Regulatory Commission (LERC). The authorized tariff will go into effect on June 16, 2025, and be in force until June 15, 2028.
Monthly fixed charges have also been added to the new pricing structure in an effort to enhance service quality and partially recoup network expenses. Commercial clients will pay US$1.50 per month, while residential clients would pay US$1.00.
Additionally, there will be a US$12.00 connection cost for new users who want to join the Energicity network. Following extensive consideration of energicity’s plan and public meetings in Gbarma, Bopolu, and Henry’s Town, the decision was made.
In order to balance cost recovery and affordability, LERC authorized lower rates than the US$0.62/kWh tariff and US$2.00 fixed charges that Energicity had originally sought. Acting Chairman of the LERC Atty. Kla-Edward Toomey, II, made the announcement during a ceremony at Bopolu City Hall, stressing that the authorized rates were established in compliance with Section 53 of the Micro-Utility Licensing Regulation (MULR).
For big and medium micro-utility licensees, the provision requires that rates be in line with their business goals and the Tariff Regulations (TR) principles. Atty. Toomey stated, “We took into account the revenue requirement for Energicity’s efficient operations, projected customer growth, energy demand, and capital and operating costs when deriving the end-user tariffs that we are announcing today.”
After every community in the licensing area is linked to the grid, he continued, a little tariff review would be started. The decision was hailed by local government officials as an important step for the county’s growth.
Acting Superintendent for Gbarpolu James Kpoto Scott spoke, pointing out that electricity has already increased security and prompted more locals to join the grid. He said it’s a way for business possibilities to make money.
Howard P. Bonqay, the financial officer for Gbarpolu County, also praised the Commission for outlining the tariff determination procedure. He called for increased public education and understanding of the tariff structure, declaring that “At this early stage, the tariff is affordable, and we hope costs decrease as more customers join the grid.”
The adoption of this price is a significant step toward improving economic growth, increasing access to power in Liberia’s rural areas, and improving people’s quality of life through better energy infrastructure.
The decision was hailed by Energicity engineer Richard Arthur, who pointed out that clients had been getting a dependable supply of power for more than eight months without having to pay.
He stated, “This approval strengthens our ability to expand services across Gbarpolu and beyond.” The institution will also start offering daily billing information to consumers so they can better understand how much power they use.
Customers were advised to prepare to start paying for their power used. With a Large Composite Micro Utility License, Energicity is presently able to produce, distribute, and sell power in 10 towns in Gbarpolu County, many of which were previously underserved.
