Grand Kru County Senator, Numene T. H. Bartekwa, has called on the Liberian Senate to intervene in reducing the cost of electricity from 0.20 cents to 0.15 cents per kilowatt, arguing that the current high tariff is stifling industrial growth, constraining businesses, and limiting domestic revenue generation. The communication was read during Tuesday’s session and forwarded for review, with a final decision pending the committee’s report. Senator Bartekwa urged the Plenary to engage both the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) to consider the reduction.
According to him, the current tariff structure discourages many large businesses and industries from connecting to the national grid, a condition he believes is undermining efforts to strengthen Liberia’s economy. In his communication, the Senator referenced Liberia’s current power generation capacity, which he said stands at approximately 214 megawatts. He attributed this capacity to several sources, including the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant, Bushrod Island Thermal Plant, the West African Power Pool Cross-Border Electricity from Côte d'Ivoire, the Cote d'Ivoire-Liberia-Sierra Leone-Guinea (CLSG) transmission line, and other supplementary power arrangements.
With government’s target of reaching 450 megawatts by 2030, the Senator emphasized the need to ensure that industries and major businesses are integrated into the national electrification plan. Senator Bartekwa pointed out that “many business institutions want to expand their industries and operations but are constrained by the high cost of electricity.” He stressed that this challenge is costing the government significant domestic revenue and limiting employment opportunities that would otherwise be created if businesses were able to expand. He further argued that the high electricity tariff is one of the major barriers to economic growth.
Drawing comparisons from the subregion, he noted that industries in Ghana pay about 0.04 cents per kilowatt, while those in Côte d'Ivoire pay around 0.05 cents. These relatively lower tariffs, he said, enable businesses in those countries to flourish, whereas Liberian industries struggle to stay competitive. “Considering the vital role electricity plays in the running of every business, I humbly request the quick intervention of the Plenary of the Liberian Senate to engage these two institutions for the reduction of the cost per kilowatt,” Senator Bartekwa appealed. He emphasized that lowering the cost would encourage industries to connect to the grid, expand operations, create jobs, and increase government revenue.
Some lawmakers also highlighted the need to ensure proper management of electricity distribution in rural areas, where communities have reportedly been connected without the presence of adequate LEC management teams. They urged that this concern be incorporated into the committee’s review. Senator Bartekwa reiterated that reducing the electricity tariff would lessen operational burdens on businesses, lower the cost of goods and services, increase customer demand, and ultimately enhance revenue for both LEC and the government. He expressed confidence that such a measure would contribute significantly to industrial growth and job creation. The Senate is now awaiting the findings and recommendations from the relevant committees, which are expected to report back in due course.
Author: Zac T. Sherman
