By Jessica Cox
Liberia has achieved a significant milestone by ranking among the top 10 performers in the African Development Bank’s 2024 Electricity Regulatory Index (ERI), according to an announcement by Augustus V. Guanue, Executive Director of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC). The index, which was launched on June 20, 2025, at the Africa Energy Forum in South Africa, measures the development of electricity sector regulatory frameworks across African nations by evaluating three key areas: regulatory governance, regulatory substance, and regulatory outcomes.
Guanue emphasized that Liberia’s inclusion in the top tier reflects the country’s growing influence in the energy sector, sustained regulatory reforms, and strong political commitment to improving electricity infrastructure. This achievement marks a remarkable upward trajectory for Liberia, which has climbed steadily from 37th position in 2021 to 10th in 2022, and now 9th in 2024 among 43 participating African countries. The consistent improvement highlights the effectiveness of Liberia’s regulatory reforms, stakeholder engagement initiatives, and capacity-building efforts in the electricity sector.
In another significant development, Liberia has been selected to host the 2027 Annual Conference and General Assembly of the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR). This decision was made during the 21st AFUR Annual Conference and General Assembly held on March 6, 2025, in Douala, Cameroon, where the LERC successfully presented its bid to host the 23rd edition of this prestigious continental gathering.
Guanue outlined the critical functions of the LERC, which was established as the national regulator responsible for overseeing and developing Liberia’s electricity sector. The Commission’s mandate includes creating a competitive and sustainable environment for electricity services, licensing operators, approving tariffs and service charges, establishing technical standards, and resolving disputes between service providers and consumers.
Despite facing numerous challenges, the LERC has made substantial progress in regulating Liberia’s electricity market. To date, the Commission has licensed five electricity operators and developed seventeen regulatory frameworks and instruments that guide the sector’s operations. Additionally, the LERC has actively participated in regional and continental electricity regulatory activities through its engagement with the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR), and the African Union.
Highlighting recent achievements, Guanue reported that during the first half of 2025, the LERC approved new three-year electricity tariffs for Jungle Energy Power (JEP) in Nimba and Bong counties, as well as for Energicity in Gbarpolu County. The Commission is now preparing to begin tariff review processes for the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and LIBENERGY.
The LERC has also launched an online certification and licensing system for electrical professionals and contractors across Liberia, marking a significant step in digital transformation. Furthermore, the Commission has initiated technical inspections of licensed service providers, starting with LEC’s networks in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, and Montserrado counties. Similar inspection exercises are planned for JEP’s distribution areas in Bong and Nimba counties, as well as LIBENERGY’s operations in Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland counties.
