"No More Free Power" LEC Disconnects Private Bar, Vows Criminal Prosecution

MONROVIA, Liberia – The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has launched a fresh crackdown on alleged electricity theft, disconnecting Private Bar in Paynesville Township after accusing the establishment of repeatedly bypassing the national power grid through illegal connections despite previous warnings and disconnections.

According to the LEC Anti-Power Theft Taskforce, officers carried out an enforcement operation at the business on Thursday, where they allegedly discovered yet another unauthorized electricity connection. The corporation claims the establishment had previously been disconnected but illegally reconnected to the grid.

"Our team discovered another illegal connection despite previous disconnections and warnings," the corporation said.

LEC said the operation resulted in the immediate disconnection of the business from its electricity network, the removal of the alleged illegal connection, and the launch of an assessment to determine the extent of damages and revenue losses allegedly caused by the unauthorized use of electricity.

The state-owned utility further announced that legal proceedings will be initiated against the establishment, accusing it of repeated violations of Liberia's electricity regulations.

LEC described electricity theft as a serious criminal offense, warning that illegal connections place enormous pressure on transformers, contribute to frequent power outages, damage the national electricity infrastructure, and increase the financial burden on customers who pay for electricity legally.

"Power theft is a criminal offense that undermines the reliability of electricity supply and unfairly shifts costs to law-abiding customers," the corporation stated.

The corporation reiterated its commitment to intensifying its nationwide anti-power theft campaign, stressing that no individual or business found illegally consuming electricity will be exempt from enforcement actions.

LEC urged businesses and residents across the country to obtain legal electricity connections, install approved meters, and pay for the electricity they consume, warning that violators risk disconnection, financial penalties, and criminal prosecution.

As of the time of publication, Private Bar has not publicly responded to the allegations made by the Liberia Electricity Corporation. The allegations remain claims by LEC, and the establishment has not been found liable by a court.