LERC Deepens Media Partnership to Promote Transparency and Consumer Protection in Electricity Sector
MONROVIA, LIBERIA –
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has intensified efforts to strengthen transparency and public accountability in Liberia’s electricity sector through a one-day media engagement workshop aimed at enhancing collaboration with journalists and increasing public awareness on energy sector reforms.
The workshop, held Thursday in Monrovia, brought together journalists from the print, broadcast, and online media alongside officials of the Commission to discuss electricity regulation, consumer protection, sector reforms, and the future of energy access in Liberia.
The engagement was attended by members of the Commission’s Board led by Board Chair Claude J. Katta, Managing Director Goanue, and Julius Kanubah, President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
Strengthening Transparency Through the Media
Speaking during the opening session, Board Chair Claude J. Katta described the workshop as part of the Commission’s broader commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, and public confidence within Liberia’s electricity sector.
“Today’s engagement reflects the Commission’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between the LERC and the media,” Katta said. “The media play a critical role in informing the public, raising awareness about consumer rights and responsibilities, and helping to build public confidence in ongoing reforms within the electricity sector.”
According to him, the workshop also provided journalists with a deeper understanding of the Commission’s operational framework and Liberia’s evolving energy landscape.
Katta emphasized that the Commission intends to work closely with the media to educate consumers about electricity regulations, complaint mechanisms, and remedies available to customers experiencing service-related grievances.
“We look forward to working closely with the media to help educate the public on the work of the Commission, including remedies available to electricity customers whenever they experience grievances or dissatisfaction with services provided,” he added.
The LERC Board Chair further praised the Liberian media for years of partnership and public education efforts that have contributed to growing awareness about developments within the country’s electricity sector.
President Boakai Administration Praised
Katta also commended President Joseph Boakai for the administration’s continued support toward strengthening Liberia’s energy sector and advancing electricity reforms.
According to him, the government’s support remains vital to efforts aimed at liberalizing the electricity sector, expanding access, and improving service delivery across the country.
“His administration’s support continues to encourage our efforts toward liberalizing the electricity sector in ways that will increase access and improve services for Liberians,” Katta stated.
PUL Calls for Stronger Energy Reporting
For his part, PUL President Julius Kanubah underscored the importance of the Commission’s work to Liberia’s economic growth and national development.
Kanubah described electricity as central to modern society and urged journalists to prioritize informed and investigative reporting on the energy sector.
“The work of the LERC has significant consequences on the availability, accessibility, affordability, and utility of energy in Liberia,” he said. “It is impossible for the Commission to directly engage every Liberian citizen on policy decisions affecting energy access, which is why the role of the media is so critical.”
He further encouraged media institutions to hold actors within the energy sector accountable while ensuring balanced and fact-based reporting.
“The energy sector constitutes a matter of public interest journalism,” Kanubah noted. “If our daily survival depends on access to energy, then journalists must focus on increasing quality reporting and holding actors within the sector accountable.”
Expanding Electricity Access
Established under Liberia’s 2015 Electricity Law, the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission serves as the country’s independent regulator responsible for overseeing the electricity sector.
The Commission’s mandate includes regulating tariffs, protecting consumers, promoting transparency, and supporting the expansion of reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity services nationwide.
Officials say the latest media engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to improve public understanding of electricity reforms as Liberia continues to pursue broader access to energy and modernization of the sector.
