Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) ended its sixth and final public hearing on the Liberia Electricity Corporation’s (LEC) proposed new tariff on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. This allowed the public to interact directly with the utility provider to discuss, challenge, and examine the price adjustments that are anticipated to go into effect in January 2026.
As part of the Commission’s legal mandate under the 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia, which mandates that no licensed operator may charge any electricity price without prior approval from LERC, the Commission’s Director of Economic Regulations, Alieu Fuad Nyei, stated during the public hearing that the hearing was held in sixth counties, where LEC currently operates. Every tariff review process is required by law to include public engagement.
According to him, on September 30, LEC submitted a formal application for a new tariff to the Commission, including the fees it intends to impose on different customer categories. He added that the official tariff determination process began on October 14, 2025, after the LERC declared the application complete after evaluating it.
Nyei explained that the Commission then made a simplified version of the application available to the public along with a notification informing the nation that LEC had filed a revised tariff application in order to ensure transparency and legal compliance. He clarified that the purpose of the public hearings was to provide a forum for residents to ask questions, voice concerns, and offer suggestions prior to any final decision being made.
“It would be wrong and illegal for the Commission to sit quietly and approve a tariff without first consulting the public; stressing that the new tariff must be cost-reflective, ensuring LEC recovers its operational costs while maintaining prices that consumers can reasonably afford,” he stated.
He claims that LERC has already held hearings in Todee, Robertsport, Grand Bassa’s Compound One, Yarpah Town in Rivercess, and Kakata in Margibi County; the session on Wednesday being the last one in the countrywide consultation.
The Chairman of the LERC Board of Commissioners, Claude J. Katta, for his part, emphasized the Commission’s dual duty to safeguard consumers from unjust charges and make sure LEC doesn’t undercharge to the point of impairing its operations.
“We don’t want LEC to cheat you, and we don’t want LEC to cheat itself. Our job is to strike a balance so the price set will be fair to both sides,” he explained. In addition, the LERC Chairperson encouraged individuals to voice their opinions, pointing out that all remarks, queries, and worries would be recorded and taken into account when the final pricing decision was made.
Additionally, Katta is expected to provide information about the proposed tariff adjustments, including the existing rates and the pricing that the company intends to adopt starting on January 1, 2026. As the meeting came to an end, LERC reiterated its dedication to openness and urged the public to ask more questions using forms available at the location or on the Commission’s website.
Reported by: Prince Saah
