Africa-Press – Liberia. Commissioner Toomey (left), announcing the tariff decision in Gbarpolu County.
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has approved a new electricity tariff of US$0.45 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for customers served by ENERGICITY in Gbarpolu County. The approved tariff takes effect on June 16, 2025, and will remain in place through June 15, 2028.
As part of the new tariff structure, monthly fixed charges have also been introduced to help recover a portion of the network’s costs and to improve the quality of service. Residential customers will pay US$1.00, while commercial customers will pay US$1.50 monthly. Additionally, new customers seeking to connect to the ENERGICITY network will be required to pay a US$12.00 connection fee.
This decision follows public consultations held in Gbarma, Bopolu, and Henry’s Town, and a thorough evaluation of ENERGICITY’s proposal. Notably, ENERGICITY had initially proposed a tariff of US$0.62/kWh and fixed charges of US$2.00, but LERC approved lower rates to strike a balance between cost recovery and affordability.
Announcing the decision at a ceremony held at Bopolu City Hall, LERC’s Acting Chairman Atty. Kla-Edward Toomey, II, emphasized that the approved rates were determined in accordance with Section 53 of the Micro-Utility Licensing Regulation (MULR). This section mandates that tariffs for large and medium micro-utility licensees must align with their business plans and the principles in the Tariff Regulations (TR).
“In deriving the end-user tariffs that we are announcing today, we considered the revenue requirement for ENERGICITY’s efficient operations, projected customer growth, energy demand, and capital and operating costs,” said Atty. Toomey. He added that a minor tariff review would be initiated once all communities in the license area are connected to the grid.
Local government authorities praised the announcement as a major step forward for development in the county. Mr. James Kpoto Scott, Acting Superintendent for Gbarpolu, noted that electricity has already improved security and encouraged more residents to connect to the grid. “It is a means for business opportunities to earn income,” he stated.
Gbarpolu County Financial Officer Howard P. Bonqay commended the Commission for detailing the tariff determination process. “At this initial stage, the tariff is affordable, and we hope costs decrease as more customers join the grid,” he added, urging for greater public awareness and education on the tariff structure.
The approval of this tariff marks a critical milestone in expanding electricity access in Liberia’s rural areas, supporting economic development, and enhancing quality of life through improved energy infrastructure.
Engineer Richard Arthur of ENERGICITY welcomed the decision, noting that customers have been receiving reliable electricity supply for over eight months without paying. “This approval strengthens our ability to expand services across Gbarpolu and beyond,” he said, adding that the company would begin providing daily billing information to help customers understand their electricity usage. He informed customers that they should get ready to begin paying for their electricity consumption.
ENERGICITY currently operates under a Large Composite Micro Utility License, enabling it to generate, distribute, and sell electricity across ten communities in Gbarpolu County, many of which were previously underserved.
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