Monrovia – The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) continues to be under the spotlight for its inability to provide stable power supply to customers.
There have been complaints of continuous irregularities in its operation, including unstable power supply and the delay in customers’ registration process, among others.
On Tuesday, May 8, the House standing committing on State Enterprise and Public Utility was charged by Plenary to ascertain whether it was prudent to invite the management of LEC to plenary to give answers to those claims.
Plenary’s decision stems from a communication to the august body by Rep. Samuel Enders, (Montserrado, Dist. #6) alleging that LEC services are very poor and do not meet consumers’ taste and expectation, something for which the entire management team should appear to give complete outlook of its operations.
Rev. Enders writes: “I present you compliments and wish to bring to your official attention about the operations of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). The LEC offers services to its customers as though such services are being free of charge. The services are very poor and do not meet the consumers’ taste. For instance, the LEC continues to plant poles that are sub-standard in various communities, current supply is irregular, customers’ registration and access to power is a matter of extreme struggle, leaving many to give up in frustration.
The LEC has proven incapable of monitoring those who claimed to be its workers, leading to massive stealing of already installed equipment such as meters and wires that should make electricity available.
Against this backdrop, Honorable Colleagues, I herewith crave your indulgence to cite the General Manager o the Liberia Electricity Corporation along with his deputies and Technical staff to give a complete outlook of operations in providing the needed power that is highly anticipated in moving the economy.”
LEC continues to plant poles that are sub-standard in various communities, current supply is irregular, customers’ registration and access to power is a matter of extreme struggle, leaving many to give up in frustration.
Meanwhile, an employee of the Liberia Electricity Corporation told FrontPage Africa that the entity has ran out basic technical equipment such as meters, cables, poles – something which is impeding the work of the technical department the entity.
The employee who preferred anonymity said they have informed management about the situation and management is yet to respond.
“Currently, we lack of everything. There is no meter, no wire and light poles. This is impeding our work. It will be very difficult to respond to customers and continue with connection because we have ran out of those equipment that we need to operate fully,” he said.
The latest development at the lower House comes on a heel of a strike action by employees at the LEC over the alleged failure of management to make available equipment, including protective gears, which they said, put them at high risk when connecting customers to the power grid.
According to the technicians, the new management is yet to procure meters and other material, so it is sanctioning the introduction of flat rate.
This action on the part of the company could lead to a nationwide power shutdown very soon, they warned.
According to reports, the new management team is refusing to work with the appointed head of operations, causing a spilt in the workforce.