You know I've written so much about our experiences with electricity in Liberia. Service improves in the rainy season because the hydro dams are full. But "load shedding" is the norm in the dry season. Overall things have improved but power theft, mismanagement rule the day. Here are my recent observations in the midst of our burnt transformer and having no light since Sunday 7 PM which I shared on Facebook :
19 September:
The transformer got burnt on Sunday and we don't have LEC power since then. Questions: how often are maintenance and routine checks conducted? What is the quality of hardware/infrastructure that LEC has? Why does it regularly catch fire?
My friend's Facebook comment:
Call 4500 and tell them what is ongoing. The team is different than the usual. LEC is in trusted hands now...
21 September:
I called this # and someone answered on the hotline. They said issues are resolved in 5 working days. We still had to double check with management. A bigger transformer was installed yesterday but has to be " energised. " Waiting for that. Not bad!
22 September:
So the transformer was replaced but still not on and they can't get the "materials" from the warehouse. No clue when. The 4500 line is good but they connect one with engineers when you ask when is light going to come back on. Chasing engineers should not be handled by customers. I spoke to a manager who said these transformers should last for 25 years but last only for a few months!!! Too much load! The snail pace of infrastructure/social services delivery after 20 years of Neo liberal democratic peace!
My friend's Facebook comment:
I believe the problem within your community is power theft. Because when many people stealing current it is difficult to regulate the current to the required users and thus making the transformer to last less longer. You will have to endure it. As long as they have replaced the transformer it will come on. Don't know when but you should be patient. In most communities that power theft is high transformers usually don't last long. We had that situation in our community and luckily we were part of the EU Power Project area and subsequently got connect entirely (even shacks were given current). Due to that we barely face problem with such issue unless LEC is having a major problem. It can be resolved if LEC provides all consumers within your community with meters and require them to pay bills for usage. Ours was paid for by EU all we have to do is to pay for our usage.
Me:
The same bribery issue. The hotline connects us to other persons in the LEC who demand bribes. Theft by public is an outcome of little to no improvement. LEC has never been managed well. It's part of post war system of no accountability of highest public officials insidious corruption small "budgetary support" from colonisers small empty development projects meant for money channeled back out to private firms International expert salaries etc big Neo liberal resource extraction without Development and change. I am glad you are seeing some positive service but the pace is snail slow.
PS. We are without LEC for almost a week. We have purchased at least $ 150 of fuel for back up generator in a week while we spend about US $ 100 or US $ 120 in a month in the rainy season for about 400+ units.
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