The Liberia Electricity Cooperation is a public utility created by the government of Liberia through an act of legislature in 1973. The purpose of its establishment is to produce and supply economical and reliable electric power across Liberia.
LEC describes power theft as a beautiful monster that beautifies the faces of those who engage in it, mostly those involved in commercialization.
Power theft is any individual tampering with an electric service provider by attempting to bypass an electric meter to access electricity without paying for service.
According to the LEC Communication Director, Philip K. Flay, power theft is taking out the economic and financial validity of the Cooperation as the result of citizens’ refusal to pay for the electricity they consume, thus making it difficult for the management of LEC to collect taxes from its customers for the sustainability of the provision of electricity as part of the Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea “CLSG’ agreement.
How Citizens In Margibi Are Involved Into Power Theft
Individuals and business owners in Margibi County are involved in power theft ranging from bypassing electric meters and illegally connecting to the light poles.
It can be recalled that the LEC Anti-Power Theft Task Force on September 16, 2024, arrested twenty-three (23) business owners in Margibi County for reportedly stealing electricity.
Among those arrested for power theft was Sackie Flomo, Chief Executive Officer of Lofa Mineral Water Company in Kakata.
Meanwhile, businessman Flomo, after being investigated by the LEC Anti-Power Theft Division, admitted to stealing electricity.
According to LEC, Flomo’s heavy electrical equipment suppressed its transformer and made it difficult for other customers who were feeding on the transformer to get access to stable electricity. As a result of the unlawful act, Sackie Flomo was fined US$ 1,500.
Power Theft Effect On Margibi County
There are many damaged transformers in Margibi County due to the pressure and weight from heavy electrical appliances of illegal current users.
Also, few communities and households in Margibi County experience power outages at times as a result of power theft.
Power theft is also contributing to homes being gutted by fire as the result of illegal and improper electrical connections. Though nobody has agreed that their house was gutted by fire as the result of power theft, homes have burned as the result of illegal connections to homes, of which some of the connections are done on LEC poles.
What are Margibians saying about power theft?
Margibians are against the act of power theft, specifically, those who buy their LEC tokens and pay for services provided by corporations. They have said power theft undermines the smooth operations of the cooperation.
Peter M. Kerkulah, a businessman who charges phones and other electrical appliances, said as a result of power theft, most time the transformer that is producing electricity for him gets heavily loaded with homes and other buildings as the result of power outages.
He further attributed the cause of some houses in Margibi County burning to electrical shock due to an illegal connection to the LEC poles.
Kerkulah believes that the act of power theft is a crime under the law and called on the legal team of LEC to take action against those involved as it is giving the country a bad image to the outside world.
Also speaking, Korpo Barclay, an eminent citizen of Kakata, expressed disappointment in the business and company owners who are illegally taping on LEC lines.
Barclay said it is quite frustrating to struggle as a single mother and pay LEC bills while money makers are stealing current.
“Why should moneymen steal current when we poor people can struggle to buy our LEC tokens? Meaning we are the ones paying their bills,” she added.
She used the medium to call on everyone to expose those involved in power theft in respective communities.
What does the power theft law say?
Power theft is a crime under Liberian law. It is classified as a second-degree felony and is punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both under the revised Panel Code of Liberia, Chapter 15, Section 15.88.
Also, in 2019, a Liberian legislative enactment of the Liberian Penal Code Act amended Chapter 15 by adding a new section 15.8 to criminalize power theft.
On Thursday, August 26, 2021, U.S. Former U.S. Ambassador Michael McCarthy hosted a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia following the visit.
He noted that he was discouraged by widespread power theft and unpaid power bills have placed LEC in a financial crisis from which it cannot recover without immediate intervention and support from the Liberian Government.
“About two-thirds of the electricity being generated by LEC does not result in revenue [due mostly to power theft]. Without that revenue, how can LEC fix the technical issues? How can they quickly respond to power interruptions? How can they continue to connect more of Liberia to the power grid?”
It can be recalled that the Chief Executive Officer of Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Monie Captan, disclosed that the corporation is losing US$48 million annually to power theft.
“As we speak, the LEC is losing nearly 50% of its produce, electricity, amounting to over 48 million US dollars annually to power theft,” said Mr. Captan.”
He made the disclosure recently at the launch of the anti-power theft campaign held at the company’s head office down Waterside, Monrovia.
Mary Broh, head of the LEC Anti-Power Task Force, noted that the bypassing and tampering with Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) meters is becoming rampant in the country, with more than a hundred customers redirecting meters daily.
She warned perpetrators to desist immediately, stressing that individuals or entities found in meter bypass will be apprehended under the Anti-Power Theft Law.
Conclusion: Based on the research conducted, we found out that the act is unlawful and a second-degree felony, which is a crime under the revised Panel Code of Liberia, Chapter 15, Section 15.88. It is also punishable by law. Also, the act is posing threats to citizens and causing financial losses for the country.
Written by Patrick G. Moryor, Grant Fellow
