The Liberia Electricity Corporation has formally applied to the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission for a new tariff regime that would sharply raise connection fees and modestly lift business tariffs, the regulator said in a notice Tuesday.
If approved, the rates would take effect for the three-year period from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028.
Under the proposal submitted to LERC, the fee for a single-phase meter connection would jump from $20 to $82 — a 310% increase — while the charge for a three-phase meter connection would rise 14.6%, from $350 to $401.
In addition, nonresidential prepaid and postpaid customers would see an average tariff increase of about 9.1%. Resident and social customer’s network remain neutral to increased charges.
LERC said the application follows the 2015 Electricity Law, which requires that licensed suppliers charge only tariffs determined or approved by the regulator. The Commission also noted a protracted submission process:
LEC initially withdrew an application in December 2024 during an internal management transition, resubmitted in March 2025, then requested another withdrawal in July 2025 to realign the proposal with a new strategic plan and planned capital investments. The final application was filed on September 30, 2025, and LEC has since supplied additional documents requested by LERC.
“The Commission is committed to ensuring transparency and regulatory best practices throughout the tariff-setting process,” said Claude Katta, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
LERC said it will host public hearings, stakeholder engagements and outreach initiatives to gather input from consumers, civil society, policymakers and businesses before making a final determination.
The proposed increases seek to address LEC’s financing needs tied to operational costs and planned capital works, according to the utility’s rationale outlined during the multi-month review. LEC’s service area includes Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Rivercess, Grand Bassa and Margibi counties.
Economic and consumer impact
Consumer advocates and business groups are likely to scrutinize the proposal closely. The sharp jump in single-phase connection fees — the charge often paid when establishing a household electricity service — could raise upfront costs for new residential customers and those reconnecting service.
The tariff adjustments for nonresidential customers would affect businesses’ operating costs, with the 9.1% lift potentially contributing to higher prices for goods and services if firms pass on costs to consumers.
For LEC, higher connection fees and tariff adjustments could improve revenue collection and help finance network upgrades, maintenance and expansion projects that the corporation says are necessary to improve reliability.
However, regulators will weigh those objectives against affordability concerns and broader economic impacts during the consultation process.
Next steps
LERC has opened the tariff review process to public participation and will schedule hearings and stakeholder meetings. Following consultations, the Commission will complete its review and issue a decision on whether to approve, modify or reject the proposed tariffs.
The outcome will be closely watched by households, businesses and investors as Liberia faces the tradeoffs between expanding and modernizing its power infrastructure and keeping electricity affordable for consumers.
