Published: August 19, 2026
MONROVIA — The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) has rejected LIBENERGY’s request to reconsider a tariff decision that approved a lower energy charge than the utility had proposed, while granting the company additional time to address service delivery deficiencies before the new tariff takes effect.
The commission announced Tuesday that it had concluded its review of LIBENERGY’s formal application for reconsideration of the July 6, 2026, tariff decision. The review followed a public notice issued August 1 informing customers, stakeholders and other interested parties that LIBENERGY had challenged the commission’s decision.
LERC said its review considered LIBENERGY’s application, supporting submissions, the tariff record and applicable provisions of Liberia’s 2015 Electricity Law.
The commission concluded that LIBENERGY had failed to establish a legal, factual or procedural basis for reopening the tariff decision.
“After carefully examining LIBENERGY’s request, the supporting submissions, the tariff record, and the applicable provisions of the Electricity Law of Liberia, 2015,” LERC said, the company did not present grounds sufficient to warrant reconsideration.
At the center of the dispute was the energy charge approved by LERC. LIBENERGY had asked the regulator to reinstate its proposed charge of 25 cents per kilowatt-hour, arguing that the commission-approved rate of 22 cents per kilowatt-hour was not cost-reflective.
LIBENERGY also requested, alternatively, that implementation of the approved tariff be postponed.
LERC rejected both the company’s substantive challenge and its request for reconsideration, saying the issues raised largely repeated arguments that had already been considered during the original tariff review.
According to the commission, LIBENERGY’s application did not identify any material error of fact or law that would justify changing the July 6 decision.
New tariff delayed until November
Although LERC rejected the reconsideration request, it exercised its regulatory authority to delay implementation of the approved tariff.
The new tariff, originally scheduled to take effect Aug. 1, will now become effective Nov. 1, immediately after the expiration of a four-month compliance period previously granted to LIBENERGY.
The additional time is intended to allow the utility to address deficiencies identified by the regulator and demonstrate improvements in the delivery of electricity services.
LERC was explicit that the delay does not amount to a reversal of its tariff decision.
The commission said the postponement neither changes its determination nor supports LIBENERGY’s claim that the 22-cent-per-kilowatt-hour energy charge is not cost-reflective.
Instead, the extension is intended to give LIBENERGY more time to implement corrective measures and demonstrate measurable improvements in the quality, reliability and efficiency of its services.
The decision places the focus on LIBENERGY’s performance ahead of the Nov. 1 implementation date, with the regulator indicating that the company must demonstrate progress in addressing the service-related concerns identified during the regulatory process.
Regulatory scrutiny continues
The dispute underscores the role of LERC in balancing the financial and operational interests of electricity providers with the interests of consumers and the broader public.
While utilities typically argue that tariffs must provide sufficient revenue to cover operating costs and support reliable service delivery, regulators are responsible for determining whether proposed rates are justified by evidence and consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
In this case, LERC said LIBENERGY did not provide sufficient grounds to overturn the commission’s earlier decision.
The regulator’s decision also signals that the Nov. 1 implementation date is tied to LIBENERGY’s compliance obligations and service improvements rather than a reassessment of the approved tariff itself.
LERC said it will continue monitoring LIBENERGY’s compliance with its regulatory obligations and commitments to improve service.
The commission said its oversight will remain focused on ensuring that customers receive safe, reliable and efficient electricity services.
Public interest remains central
LERC also sought to reassure electricity consumers, stakeholders and local government officials that it would continue to exercise its regulatory mandate in the public interest.
The commission said it remains committed to transparent, fair and evidence-based regulation and will closely monitor LIBENERGY as the utility works to meet its obligations.
The regulator’s latest decision means the approved 22-cent-per-kilowatt-hour energy charge remains intact, despite LIBENERGY’s effort to have the rate restored to its proposed 25 cents per kilowatt-hour.
However, consumers will not see the approved tariff take effect until Nov. 1, giving LIBENERGY additional time to address the deficiencies identified by LERC.
The commission’s decision therefore creates a three-month extension between the originally scheduled implementation date and the new effective date, while maintaining the substance of the tariff determination.
For LIBENERGY, the period leading up to November will provide an opportunity to demonstrate that corrective measures are producing measurable improvements in service quality, reliability and efficiency.
For LERC, the extension provides additional time to monitor the utility’s performance while maintaining the tariff decision already reached through the regulatory process.
The commission did not indicate that it would reconsider the approved tariff based solely on the additional compliance period. Instead, it reiterated that the postponement was designed to facilitate corrective action and service improvements.
As a result, the regulator’s position remains that the 22-cent-per-kilowatt-hour rate is the approved tariff and that LIBENERGY’s request for a return to its proposed 25-cent charge has been rejected.
LERC said it will continue to monitor the company’s compliance and service improvement commitments, reinforcing its stated objective of ensuring that electricity customers receive safe, reliable and efficient service.
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