MONROVIA: Madam Mary T. Broh, Director General of the General Services Agency (GSA), who is also Co-Chairperson of the Anti-Power Theft Taskforce of Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), has described the fight against electricity theft in Liberia as a huge responsibility.
Nevertheless, Madam Broh, famously referred to by the Liberian public as “General Broh” for her no-nonsense approaches in successfully executing any responsibility assigned to her added that the Anti-Power Theft Taskforce is prepared and ready to execute the task.
“Trust me I am ready for the task. LEC must be cleaned from the top to the bottom if the taskforce is to be successful in its fight. It is now time to have a new and improved LEC,” Madam Broh averred.
It is important for people to know that LEC reports to the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) and can be held accountable.
Madam Broh made the remarks recently when the LERC launched its Community Outreach Engagement that is expected to be held across the country, with the first commencing at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) Anti Power Theft Task Force’s Site located in Duport Road, Paynesville City.
The outreach meeting was organized by the Commission in collaboration with the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and Liberia Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI).
The LERC team provided information on the work of the Commission, complaints guidelines, tariff, and customer service.
The meeting is also a platform created by the Commission to listen and interact with consumers of electricity and address issues of concerns to electricity consumers that include quality services, electricity pricing, among others.
General Broh added that information provided at the forum will help in minimizing electricity theft.”
According Broh, who is also known as “workaholic” or overachiever, there is a need to integrate the various electricity projects being implemented by donors and partners within the LEC’s network, as this is also responsible for the high rate of power theft.
Madam Broh thanked the Board of Commissioners of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), the Chairman and staff of the Commission for organizing the event, and reaching out to communities, interacting with them and providing information on its work.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of LERC, Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo, in opening remarks said, the primary job of the Commission is to protect customers and service providers across the country.
He challenges operators especially LEC to ensure that electricity is safe, stable, reliable, and accessible as it is required for better life.
“And this can only be achieved through regulations, the approved tariffs, and the issuance of licenses to operators in the sector by the Commission,” Chairman Sekajipo stressed.
Sekajipo noted that “electricity is life” and the Commission has the responsibility to give back the lives of Liberians.
However, he said that electricity is not free and as such, it must be paid for by users.
He lamented that this cannot be achieved if consumers of electricity are bye-passing meters and stealing electricity.
The forum was attended by members of the BoC, Managing Director, the European Union Long Term Technical Assistance team and staff of the Commission.
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission is a statutory body created by the 2015 Electricity Law to oversee and regulate the electricity sector.
Principal functions of the LERC are licensing operators, approving tariffs, establishing technical standards and codes, resolving disputes, and issuing regulations in accordance with the Law.
