Amid Widespread Outages and Mounting Complaints, Stakeholders Demand Independent Assessment of LEC Performance and Binding Roadmap for Reliable Service ; Residents cite 12 A.M. blackouts & business losses
KMTV NEWS COMMENTARY BY: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
The recent performance of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has become a focal point of public debate as communities across Montserrado County and several leeward counties report persistent outages, unscheduled load-shedding, and abrupt nighttime cutoffs that disrupt households, clinics, schools, and small businesses.
The questions confronting policymakers, regulators, and the public are twofold: By what objective standards should the utility’s performance over the past two quarters be judged, and what specific, time-bound measures must be prioritized to restore reliability and public confidence?
LEC’s mandate covers generation, transmission, and distribution for most of urban Liberia, with installed capacity drawn primarily from the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, heavy fuel oil plants, and regional power imports via the CLSG line.
Sector officials have previously cited gains in total generation, but distribution infrastructure, metering, and theft remain persistent constraints.
The onset of the rainy season typically improves hydro output, yet residents in parts of Paynesville, Gardnersville, Sinkor, and central Monrovia have reported nightly outages occurring at approximately 12:00 a.m. over the past two weeks, without published schedules.
Residents and business owners interviewed across four Monrovia districts cited direct economic losses from damaged appliances, spoiled inventory, and interrupted services.
Community watch groups noted increased security concerns during prolonged blackouts.
Several civil servants said outages have hampered remote work and access to government digital platforms after hours.
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) is mandated to set tariffs, approve investment plans, and enforce service standards.
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