Ganta, Nimba County – In a landmark decision within the electricity sector in Liberia, the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), has upheld the electricity price at US$0.22 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for customers in Jungle Energy Power (JEP) distribution areas in Nimba and Bong counties.

Announcing the decision in Gompa City, Nimba County, Atty. Kla-Edward Toomey II, Acting Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, emphasized that the revised rate strikes a balance between the interests of consumers and JEP’s need to recover costs and ensure a reasonable return on investment. The new price marks a 12% reduction from the previous rate of US$0.25 per kWh.

Additionally, the Commission introduced a new monthly fixed charge of US$1.50, aimed at supporting network reinforcement and enhancing the quality of service in the two counties. The Commission also mandated that JEP establish an escrow account, jointly managed with LERC, to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of the collected fixed charges. Monthly reports on the fixed charge collection will be submitted to the Commission for oversight.

The Commission approved a US$40.00 connection charge for each new customer seeking to connect to JEP’s network in Bong and Nimba counties. This marks a significant reduction from the previous charge of US$100.00, making it easier for new customers to access electricity. The remaining costs will be recovered through the revised energy tariff.

Commissioner Toomey, II explained The US$40.00 paid by new customers will cover the materials required for the connection, which include the following: One energy meter (single/3-phase), 25-meter length of 16-square millimeter low-voltage cable for single phase and equivalent for three phase and Maximum of four connectors.

With this new tariff structure, the provisional tariffs previously approved for JEP in 2021 for Nimba County and 2023 for Bong County are hereby revoked.

The newly approved tariffs will be effective from March 20, 2025, to March 19, 2028. Minor tariff reviews may be initiated by either the service provider or the regulator, as outlined in the Multi-Year Tariff Methodology of May 2021.

Responding to the Commission’s decision, JEP’s CEO Tomah S. Floyd, Sr., said the management was processing the Commission’s decision and contemplating the next steps and would respond at the appropriate time come up with a response.

CEO Floyd pinpointed that JEP is open to dialogue with stakeholders on the matter.

The Development Officer of Bong County, Seidiki Kromah, praised the Commission’s decision for the reduction in tariffs in Bong and Nimba Counties and hoped that it will not serve as an impediment in the delivery of service for JEP.

Mr. Kromah said the reduction will help improve the livelihood of residents in the two counties.

The Deputy Minister for Energy at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Charles Umehai, said one of the major priorities of the Government of Liberia is to have reliable, efficient and affordable electricity supply.

Minister Umehai called on LERC to provide support to JEP to increase access that will lead to enhancing JEP’s revenue base. He lauded JEP for services noting that “it is a test case that Liberian owned business can compete, be efficient and can-do electricity distribution successfully.

It can be recalled, LERC has approved a 12% reduction in electricity tariffs for the Bong and Nimba counties grid, operated by JEP. But in January 2025, JEP filed a notice for reconsideration. 

Monrovia – The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has suspended the unauthorized “expedited connection service fee” of $150.00 charged by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). 

LERC confirmed that this fee was not authorized and violates the Commission’s regulations.

In a statement, LERC ordered LEC to immediately halt the collection of this unauthorized fee from customers requesting expedited connections. The Commission has also launched an investigation to evaluate the legality of the fee and determine the reasons for its imposition without prior approval.

“We are committed to ensuring electricity services are affordable and accessible to all Liberians,” stated Atty. Kla-Edward Toomey, II, Acting Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. “This action underscores our responsibility to protect consumers and ensure utility charges are fair and transparent.”

LERC has scheduled a meeting with LEC management to discuss the matter and ensure the utility complies with the directive. 

The Commission also warned other utilities to refrain from imposing unauthorized fees and pledged to take further action against any entity found in violation of its regulations.

The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has approved a 12% reduction in electricity tariffs for the Bong and Nimba counties grid, operated by Jungle Energy Power (JEP).

The new tariffs, which will take effect on January 31, 2025, were announced by the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Honorable Claude J. Katta during a ceremony held in Gompa City, Nimba County on Monday, December 30, 2024.

The revised tariff structure has reduced the energy charge from US$0.25 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to US$0.22 per kWh, benefiting electricity consumers in both counties. In addition, a new monthly fixed charge of US$1.25 has been introduced to fund network improvements and ensure a higher quality of service. The commission is expected to sign an MoU with JEP, outlining how the fixed charge is expected to be used to serve the interest of consumers in JEP’s operational areas.

JEP has also seen a significant reduction in the connection charge, which has been lowered from US$100 to US$40 for new customers wanting to connect to the grid. This change is aimed at making electricity more accessible to residents by covering the cost of materials for connections while the remaining costs will be recouped through the revised energy tariff.

Chairman Katta emphasized that the decision was made after a thorough technical analysis in line with the 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia, which mandates the LERC to regulate and set tariffs for the electricity sector. He assured that the new tariffs strike a balance between enabling JEP to recover its operational costs, incentivizing system improvements, and providing affordable electricity to consumers.

The newly approved tariffs will come into force from “January 31, 2025, to January 30, 2028”, replacing the provisional tariffs that were set for Nimba County in 2021 and Bong County in 2023. Mr. Tomah Seh Floyd, CEO of Jungle Group of Companies, the parent company of JEP, welcomed the decision and affirmed that JEP, as a law-abiding entity, would comply with the new tariff structure. He acknowledged the challenges facing the sector, such as the need for consistent revenue and a lack of sufficient information but stressed the importance of improving local electricity generation.

“We are exploring ways to generate our own electricity, which will allow us to be more efficient and reduce the price of electricity,” Tomah said. “Serving our people remains our biggest achievement”, he asserted.

Madama Meapeh Kou Gono, Superintendent of Nimba County, expressed her satisfaction with the tariff reduction. She praised the LERC for the decision, noting that it would allow consumers to save money without compromising the county’s economic productivity, particularly given Nimba’s role as the second-largest economy in Liberia.

She also commended JEP for its contributions to the development of the county and hoped that the tariff adjustments would not lead to scarcity of electricity, a concern among local stakeholders.

The announcement was well-received by various stakeholders, including local government officials, civil society organizations, and community representatives from Bong and Nimba counties. With the new tariffs set to take effect next year, LERC aims to ensure affordable, efficient, and sustainable electricity services in the region while supporting the long-term viability of the electricity sector.

This tariff reduction is seen as a significant step towards improving the financial sustainability of JEP and making electricity more accessible to Liberian households and businesses in Bong and Nimba counties.

In a related move, the LERC issued a directive requiring JEP to submit a comprehensive report on the collection of legacy debts on behalf of LEC. The legacy debts are debts incurred by customers prior to LEC turning over the Bong and Nimba operational areas to JEP. The commission requires the management of JEP to provide a detailed report outlining the amount of the debt collected so far and remitted to the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), and outstanding balances by January 15, 2025. The Commission warned that failure to comply with this directive could result in regulatory action, including penalties, further investigations, or other measures.

Monrovia– The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission Board Chairman, Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajibo, has emphasized the importance of the Commission’s role in regulating both the price and quality of electricity services in Liberia. 

By Willie N. Tokpah/willie.tokpah@frontpageafricaonline.com

Dr. Sekajibo, during the LERC engagement on Tuesday, August 13, in Sinkor, noted that the country’s electricity sector had been dominated by monopolistic practices, which had severe economic repercussions on Liberians before LERC’s intervention, and the need to regulate the sector is cardinal. 

“Poor policy implementation and the lack of a liberalized market structure have long been issues plaguing the electricity sector. We are committed to addressing these challenges through the robust implementation of regulatory instruments,” Dr. Sekajibo asserted. 

He also stressed the importance of ensuring gender participation within the sector, noting that inclusivity is a key component of the Commission’s regulatory strategy.

Addressing concerns raised during the engagement about the need for increased investment in the electricity sector, Dr. Sekajibo sees this as significant to helping LERC operate effectively. 

Dr. Sekajibo encouraged media practitioners at the engagement to focus on the regulatory framework and ongoing reforms in their reporting, as it could help attract much-needed investment. 

“The media plays an indispensable role in conveying our messages to the public, and by doing so, they can help attract investors who are critical to the sector’s growth,” Dr. Sekajibo averred.

Addressing concerns about the Commission’s funding, the LERC boss clarified that its budget is primarily supported by levies collected from businesses within the electricity sector, rather than direct funding from the Government of Liberia and that said funding model is designed to ensure the Commission’s independence and ability to carry out its regulatory duties without external influence.

LERC’s overarching goal is to achieve economic competitiveness within the electricity sector, he said.

The Commission said it is focused on analyzing cost structures, assessing impacts, and targeting improvements that can enhance the overall performance of the electricity supply industry in Liberia. 

The LERC Media Engagement was organized in a strategic move to boost public understanding and awareness of the electricity sector’s regulatory framework.

The event, attended by over 20 media professionals, including reporters, editors, and media owners, served as a platform to deepen their knowledge of the Commission’s role, functions, and the broader scope of its operations.

The day-long discussion was designed to be highly interactive, with LERC officials engaging directly with the media to explain the intricacies of electricity licensing regulations, economic regulations, and technical regulations. 

The discussions also covered the regulatory database management system, which plays a crucial role in maintaining transparency and efficiency within the electricity sector.

Additionally, the participants were given an in-depth review of the Commission’s resources, including its website and other informational materials, to enhance their reporting capabilities.

The primary objective of the workshop was to equip media practitioners with the necessary tools and knowledge to accurately inform the public about LERC’s operations. By doing so, LERC aims to foster a more informed public, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of electricity regulation in Liberia. 

In his closing remarks, Commissioner Atty. Kla-Edward Toomey expressed delight over the level of participation by media practitioners, reaffirming LERC’s commitment to working closely with the media to raise public awareness.

“LERC is one of the newest regulatory bodies in Liberia, and we recognize the need for robust action and continuous engagement with the public. This workshop is just the beginning of our efforts to increase visibility and understanding of our role,” Atty. Toomey stated.

Atty. Toomey further noted that LERC’s mission is to solidify its presence in communities and ensure that the public is well-informed about its operations. 

He said: “We see the media as an indispensable partner in this effort. Through their reporting, our people can gain valuable insights into what LERC is doing to regulate and improve the electricity sector in Liberia.”

LERC said as it continues to advance its public awareness campaign, the partnership with the media is expected to play a crucial role in shaping public perception and understanding of the electricity sector. 

The Commission’s efforts to engage with the media and the public are part of a broader strategy to ensure that all Liberians have access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity services. 

This forum marks a significant step forward in LERC’s ongoing mission to create a transparent, competitive, and inclusive electricity market in Liberia. With continued collaboration between LERC and the media, the Commission is well-positioned to achieve its goals and contribute to the overall development of the country’s electricity sector.

A six-man delegation from the Uganda Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineer Ziria Waak Ziria Tibalwa Waako is in the country as guest of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC).

In an inception meeting, the LERC Chairman Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo welcomed the delegation and pinpointed that “LERC has identified several gaps in its operations, and it was important to work with ERA in making recommendations on how to improve the Commission’s operations and LERC has chosen to work with the best on the African continent”, he noted.

Responding, ERA CEO Waako thanked LERC for the opportunity and described the mission to Liberia as complementary between the two institutions and noted “that Africa now has what it takes to solve its problems”.

The ERA delegation mission to its Liberian counterpart is to work with the Commission and conduct a thorough gap analysis on technical, compliance, enforcement and capacity-building needs of the LERC. The team will evaluate LERC’s existing Regulatory Governance and Substance, perform an on-the-ground assessment of operational challenges and training needs.

In addition, the delegation will engage various departments within the Commission, strategic stakeholders in Liberia’s electricity sector that include the licensed operators, the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning and Mines and Energy, Rural Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), consumer groups, the media and among others.  

At the end of the mission the delegation will make recommendations to the Commission on how it can enhance its technical, compliance, enforcement operation in the electricity industry in Liberia.

ERA delegation includes Harold Obiga Director Legal Services, Peter Kakeeto Manager Technical Monitoring and Compliance, Vianney Mutyaba Manager Pricing, Isaac Kinhonhi Manager Research and Planning and John Ntende Manager Corporate Planning.

Also in attendance at the inception meeting were officials of LERC that include Commissioner Amara M. Kamara, directors and heads of various departments.

ERA has consistently occupied the top position since the inception of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Electricity Regulatory Index (ERI) for Africa in 2018 and continues to maintain its prime standing as the number one electricity regulator in Africa.

The ERI is a composite index that measures the level of development in the Electricity Sector Regulatory Frameworks in African countries against international standards and best practice. Uganda’s Regulatory Framework emerged No. 1, as a result of the good and conducive Regulatory Environment put in place by the ERA.

MONROVIA- The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), through its Board of Commissioners headed by Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo, has provided a 25-year license to Energicity Liberia for the generation, distribution, and sale of electricity without discrimination to customers within Gbarpolu County.

The LERC in compliance with Section 5.3, application of license for the 2015 electricity law of Liberia, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, issued Energicity Liberia Corp, an active minigrid developer and operator with 71 minigrids in operation across Sierra Leone and Benin.

Presenting the license to Energicity Liberia, Dr. Sekajipo, chairman, the LERC Board of Commissioners, said: “By the 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia, this License is issued to the Energicity Liberia, a business registered under the laws of the Republic of Liberia, hereinafter referred to as the “License Holder” for the Generation, Distribution and Sale of Electricity without discrimination to customers within Gbarpolu County (Totoquolle, Henry Town, Farwanta, Gbana, Zuo, Yagaryah, Takpoima, Smith Camp and Wesua) by the Terms and Conditions of the License,”  Dr. Sekajipo said. 

According to Dr. Sekajipo, the License is valid for 25 years commencing on July 17, 2024, up to and including the 16th day of July 2049.

In response, Neema Kezilahabi, Regional Director of Construction for Energicity Liberia, indicated that the license will enable the company to add 10 sites in Gbarpolu County to the portfolio, ranging in size from 26.88 kW in Totokolle to 750 kW for Bopolu City, the county capital. 

In remarks, Energicity Liberia Regional Director, Madam Kezilahabi, revealed that the company is planning to commission its first projects this year and complete all 10 sites in the first half of 2026, adding that the total license will enable over 1MW of initial solar development and approximately $4 million in investment which the company has already started building.

“We are particularly excited because, with this license, we will be entering our third country, Liberia. More than that, this milestone represents connecting up to 40,000 Liberians to grid-scale electricity for the first time,” she said. 

Energicity Liberia’s Regional Director explained that with electricity, families, businesses, and communities will have access to new opportunities such as lighting up schools so that children can learn after dark, powering healthcare facilities, internet access, and creating job opportunities for the communities, ensuring that projects benefit the local economy and provide skill.

She noted that the company appreciates the support of several other agencies, 24mm f/1.89 1/33s ISO4207 including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Rural Renewable Energy Agency.

“Lastly, and most importantly for this occasion, we are grateful for the unflagging support of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission. We look forward to our continued partnership,” Madam Kezilahabi concluded.

Also speaking, the LERC Acting Managing Director, Abu B. Sanso, said the action of the Commission to have issued the license is based on an application from Energicity Liberia to generate and distribute electricity in Gbarpolu County.

“The action of the Commission is a testimony of LERC’s ability to not only attract private sector investment in the electricity sector by the creation of an enabling regulatory environment but also to fulfill the government goal of access to reliable and safe electricity to citizens and residents nationwide,” LERC Acting Managing Director Abu B. Sanso added.

MONROVIA – ENERGICITY Liberia has presented a proposal to residents of Gbarpolu County and the Board of Commissioners (BoC) of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) on how it will provide access to electricity in ten communities in the county.

Mr. Femi A. Coker, a representative from ENERGICITY’s Market Development, speaking a public hearing organized by the Commission on 5 April 2024 informed the BoC that following extensive engagements with the Rural Renewal Energy Agency (RREA) and the Liberia Electricity Commission (LEC) it narrowed its focus for mini grid development in Gbarpolu County.

In 2021, it applied to the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) and was selected to develop and operate a portfolio of mini grids in 10 communities with approximately 4,000 customers in Gbarpolu County.

Initial communities to benefit from the solar electrification are Bopolu City, Totoquolle, Henry Town, Farwanta, Gbana, Zuo, Yagaryah, Takpoima, Smith Camp and Wesua.

“ENERGICITY has a strong commitment to partnering with the Government of Liberia to enhance energy access in the country and contribute to the development of the Liberia electricity sector”, Mr. Coker averred.

If licensed by the Commission, Mr. Coker pinpointed, ENERGICITY will commission its first site by the second and or third quarter of 2024 with the total initial installed capacity proposed of 970 kWp (Solar) and 4 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).

He explained that ENERGICITY had already begun the construction and completion of several power houses and the erection of light poles in several of the communities.

Mr. Coker’s submission at the public hearing was followed by comments, questions, and answers. Residents in separate comments lauded the Commission for organizing the public hearing and noted that the electrification of Gbarpolu County has been long overdue.

In opening remarks, Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo, the Chairman of the BoC said the purpose of the hearings was to “ensure that all affected parties have a fair and meaningful opportunity for participation in the decision-making process of the Commission”.

He told participants at the hearing that was in accordance with the 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia related Regulations which mandates the Commission to conduct public hearings

Dr. Sekajipo informed ENERGICITY and the residents at the hearing that the Commission will review and analyse all the comments received and will be considered in its final decision on this matter.

This matter is currently scheduled for decision by the Commission within 20 working days and when a decision is made, ENERGICITY LIBERIA, will be informed within 10 working days, Dr. Sekajipo said.

The public hearing brought together the local government authorities, Atty. Ela-Edward Toomey, II, Commission LERC, Augustus V. Goanue Managing Director LERC, representatives from RREA and LEC, stakeholders, residents, ENERGICITY, businesses, civil society organizations, interest groups and residents.

MONROVIA – Liberia’s Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to bolstering the energy sector to attract investment and foster economic growth.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Addressing attendees through a proxy at the launch of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (LERC) database management system on Wednesday, VP Koung acknowledged the significant challenges facing the sector. He emphasized the government’s determination to address these challenges and improve the lives of citizens.

VP Koung emphasized that enhancing the energy sector is crucial for attracting investments, stimulating private sector growth, and achieving economic progress. He commended the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) for its continuous efforts to enhance Liberia’s energy sector.

Highlighting the government’s ARREST agenda, which focuses on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism, VP Koung underscored the importance of capacity building and institutional strengthening. These efforts are aimed at developing essential infrastructures for efficient government service delivery.

The launch of LERC’s regulatory database management system exemplifies the Government of Liberia’s commitment to enhancing public institutions by leveraging IT-based infrastructure for modern business processes and transactions.

VP Koung expressed the government’s commitment to collaborating with LERC and its partners to enhance the capacity of Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACS) responsible for planning, resource mobilization, and project management.

He praised the African Development Bank for its support in achieving this milestone and expressed optimism that the LERC regulatory database management system would facilitate digital interactions with licensees and consumers. Additionally, it would strengthen Liberia’s electricity regulatory framework within the sub-regional context, aligning with ECOWAS’s efforts towards a unified electricity market.

The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission, established under the 2015 Electricity Law, plays a vital role in regulating the electricity supply industry, including licensing operators, approving tariffs, and resolving service-related disputes.

Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo, Chairman of the LERC Board of Commissioners, emphasized the system’s role in enhancing service efficiency and regulatory effectiveness. The system, funded by the African Development Bank, will enable accurate data management, quality-of-service monitoring, and streamlined complaint resolution processes, he said.

He added that the system provides a custom web and mobile solution that will enable collection by authorized entities such as staff, licensees, statutory bodies data and other partners for storage and analysis to ensure efficient and effective business processes and regulatory decision making.

As the Commission embarks on the implementation of its Five-Year Strategic Plan (2023 – 2027), the LERC’s Chairman noted that automating its internal processes using the Regulatory Data Base Management System enables the commission to improve operational efficiency, achieve higher productivity and reduce turnaround times in business processes to attain the targets set in the strategic Plan.

“The system, which contains web-based and mobile data collection capabilities such as data visualization, data collection tool and the generation of user-friendly ad hoc reports and insights is a significant boost to the energy sector of Liberia,” he said.

Mr. Benedict Kanu, AfDB Country Manager for Liberia highlighted the system’s US$300,000 investment, emphasizing its role in improving data collection, analysis, and stakeholder engagement within the power sector.

The system, Kanue noted, is designed to bolster the LERC’s capabilities in monitoring, collecting, analyzing and sharing regulatory data and information within the power sector in a more efficient and proactive manner.

By implementing the system, he said the LERC will be better equipped to handle consumer complaints and facilitate dispute resolutions between consumers and utility providers seamlessly.

Additionally, the RDBMS will promote increased stakeholder engagement and participation in the regulatory decision-making processes, fostering a collaborative more and transparent regulatory environment.

He added that the AfDB has been at the forefront of mainstreaming electricity regulatory issues within the broader power discourse of Africa, adding that the system being unveiled today stems from the Bank’s flagship Electricity Regulatory Index for Africa (ERI) report.

At the event, key service providers commended LERC for its efforts.

Monie Captan, CEO of the Liberia Electricity Corporation hailed the success at the LERC to its highly trained and qualified professionals.

Floyd Tomah of Jungle Energy acknowledged the system’s potential to improve regulatory processes and stakeholder collaboration, but continued guidance and support from the regulator.

MONROVIA – The attention of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has been drawn to acute power outages being experienced by customers of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). 

In the last couple of months, electricity supply has been increasingly poor on account of the seasonal variation in water levels at the Mt. Coffee Hydro Power Plant due to the dry season. This condition has worsened in the last few days prompting the LEC to undertake a massive load shedding exercise.

The Commission reminds the management of LEC that during the tariff determination process in 2022, the Commission considered full utilization of 33MW of thermal capacity from the Bushrod Thermal Plant as part of LEC’s dry season generation mix. This source of generation is critically important now that Mount Coffee generation has dropped significantly due to the dry season.

The LEC generation reports in the possession of the Commission show only about half of the thermal capacity is being used for a limited period daily. To address the generation deficit, the Commission hereby mandates LEC to fully utilize the thermal plant which would minimize the duration of power outages that customers are currently experiencing.

The Commission also urges LEC to fully implement the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between LEC and Cote d’ Ivoire Energies (CIE) for an increase from 27MW to 50MW as stipulated for the contract year 2024.

LERC assures electricity consumers, policymakers, and stakeholders of its relentless determination in keeping with the 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia and approved regulations, that appropriate regulatory actions are being taken to mitigate the outage durations and erratic power supply in the LEC distribution service area.

“The Commission will continue to engage with the management of LEC and other stakeholders on how the load shedding situation can be addressed to improve electricity supply in Liberia. The Board of Commissioners (BoC) will continue to intensify efforts to bring the situation under control,” Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo, Chairman of the BoC asserted.

KAKATA City- As part of project activities for the setting up of a Regulatory Database Management System (RDBMS) for the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), the Commission with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB), has began a 10-day Structured Query Language (SQL), Database Management and Security workshop in Margibi County.

By Francis G. Boayue

The training facilitated by IRIDIS Solutions has brought together participants from the Commission and licensed operators that include the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Jungle Energy Power (JEP) and Totota Electric Cooperative.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training on Monday, December 4, 2023, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo thanked the AfDB for funding the setting up the RDBMS and urged participants to take full advantage of the training opportunity.

Dr. Sekajipo asserted that the RDBMS when setup will digitize LERC’s internal processes which will enable the Commission to improve operational efficiency, achieve higher productivity, and reduce turnaround times in business processes.

He described RDBMS as “a significant milestone in the electricity industry that will assist in achieving the Government of Liberia electricity agenda to provide reliable access to 70% of the Liberian pollution by the year 2030”.

For his part, Mr. Solomon Sarpong, Senior Energy Economist/Policy Officer, at the AfDB and the Project Task Manager commended LERC for the speedy and efficient implementation of the project and said the Bank will continue to support such initiatives.

Mr. Sarpong providing the context for the Bank’s support to the Commission said the AfDB conceived the idea to support RDBMS following LERC’s performance in the Regulatory Index for Africa that accesses electricity frameworks in African countries to identify gaps and find solutions.

He said LERC has been a consistent participant even though it is a new regulator, and that the Bank is aware of all the regulatory instruments it is developing and takes note.

“The Bank found out that one of things to address these gaps is the digitalization initiative and LERC had rightly made the request to AfDB. This is a one stop gap solution to address LERC’s gaps identified which is to allow stakeholders participation and transparency in regulation. The Bank is pleased with the level of work that will make LERC move up the index”, he asserted.

Mr. Sarpong pinpointed that when the RDBMS project is completed the Commission’s technical team will now be able to sit in office and get real time information; and the next phase of the project will focus on stakeholders buy-in and real-time link-ins with operators, he asserted.

The Bank, Mr. Sarpong revealed, will soon begin the implementation of the African Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program, and urged the Commission to take advantage.

Providing an overview of the workshop, Dr. Kofi Sarpong Adu-Manu, Lead Consultant and Program Director, Iridis Technologies said his organization is pleased to be associated with this milestone project that the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission is undertaking.

Dr. Adu-Manu said the workshop will build the capacity of technical teams from LERC and licensed operators who will be using this system. “We are going to provide hands-on training for the technical teams for the effective use of the system. The system largely depends on the database, its management and security. The system cannot be put in place without technical expertise”.

He explained that as part of the Bank’s requirements it is expected that IRIDIS Solutions provide effective training to ensure effective and efficient use of the RDBMS.

“IRIDIS Solution will provide some essentials so that the technical teams will be able to understand some of the core concepts relative to the database. Also, essential ways to curb attackers so when the system is deployed online to be ready for any eventuality because this is an electronic system, and it is posed to threats.

 “So, when these threats happen the technical team is already ahead of the threat. They will always be ahead of attackers. Our goal is to always have the system functional. How to optimize the operations of the system to ensure that everything is on point, Dr. Adu-Manu informed participants.

It can be recalled, the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved US$255,000 to support the establishment of a Regulatory Database Management System (RDBMS) at the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC).

The RDBMS will automate key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor utilities’ performance on benchmarks such as financial performance, technical and commercial quality of service performance, and quality of service delivery and operational efficiency.

Additionally, the system will automate LERC’s regulatory processes to enable the Commission monitor compliance in an accurate and timely manner, regulate the operational and financial performance of the licensees and facilitate the provision of timely and reliable information and data on the electricity sector and regulated entities to consumers, stakeholders, and the public.