The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has engaged the media on the Liberia Electricity Sector Regulatory Framework to abreast journalists on the role of the entity in the country.
During the engagement, each department head of the LERC gave briefings on the workings of the commission, thus making it easier for journalists to report electricity stories to the population.
Speaking Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at the beginning of the meeting in Monrovia, Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the LERC, said while the entity recognizes that social media platforms influence a significant part of consumers, it is important that the LERC stays proactively engaged with the traditional media to amplify efforts to promote the services it provides.
Sekajipo said the LERC has developed and implemented regulations and codes to attract private sector investment and accelerate access to affordable, reliable and stable electricity services.
He said the Commission’s goals are to establish and implement modernized regulatory systems, policies, and procedures, ensure the regulatory system is efficient and effective by rationalizing implementation of regulations and enforcement of compliance, create a work environment that is conducive and build a workforce that will promote organizational success.
“While these goals are lofty, not many people know who we are, what we do, the difference between the LEC and the LERC, and the functions and powers of the LERC as a regulatory body. This is the essence of this media engagement and workshop. We have an untold story or not sufficiently told story for our stakeholders and consumers,” he said.
For his part, LERC Acting Managing Director, Abu Deknotee Sanso, revealed that the responsibility of the commission is to ensure the coordinated and accelerated growth and development of the sub-sector in a conducive and competitive environment for sustainability.
Director Sanso said the LERC is in the business of licensing operators in the sub-sector, approving tariffs and charges for services provided, approving sector plans and the investments by operators, establishment and monitoring of technical standards and codes, resolution of service (consumer) or license related disputes.
He said it is the responsibility of the Commission to regulate standards, codes, tariffs, licensing, compliance; saying, its operations include, efficiency, reliability, quality and security of supply to the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and private operators such as Jungle Energy Power, LIBenergy, Totota Electric Cooperative (TEC) and Energicity (Starlight Energy).
Sanso said the role of the Board of Commissioners is to approve the regulatory policies and strategic management decisions and provide oversight of the LERC’s operations, while the role of LERC management is to undertake day to day operations and implement regulatory policies and strategic decisions as approved by the Board.
