Pleebo Citizens Reject LIBENERGY Meters amidst Installation Controversy… Cites high Price

By: Peter P. Toe, Jr.

Maryland: Amidst the ongoing installation of electricity regulatory meters in several homes in Maryland County, citizens of Pleebo Sodoken District have widely rejected the use of meters in their homes.

 Several Marylanders have termed the usage of the meters, especially the ones brought in by LIBENERGY, a private company, as a means of exploiting citizens in the area.

In a massive citizens' meeting held on Monday, June 27, 2024, with LIBENERGY management and citizens of Pleebo Sodoken District, Mr. J. Winston C. Johnson, LIBENERGY’s Administrative Supervisor for Maryland and River Gee Counties, disclosed that the single-phase meters are available for everyone in Maryland County.

Mr. Johnson further stated that the meters are available for $130 USD, which can be paid in full or in instalments of $26 dollars over a period of five months.

Meanwhile, the LIBENERGY regional supervisor indicated that after paying the $130 US dollars, it is not clear whether the meter solely belongs to the customer, stating that the meter is partially owned by the service providers and the customer.

Reacting to the statement, several citizens in Pleebo, who are also power users, have termed the regulation as regrettable.

"In Ivory Coast, when I bought my meter, I used it freely, and when I was leaving, the company refunded my money. But what is LIBENERGY saying?" said Cita Konneh, a business person in Pleebo. "In Monrovia, LEC gave free meters, but why should we in Maryland buy our own meters?" Mr. John Wah stressed in the meeting.

However, Chairperson of the Pleebo City Council, Rev. Francis Kesseh, is calling on citizens to unitedly reject LIBENERGY in Maryland. Rev. Kesseh said the use of meters from LIBENERGY in Pleebo is not inherently bad, but the prices imposed on the meters are too high for citizens in Pleebo to comply with.

He is calling on the citizens of Pleebo to set up a committee that will meet with Maryland's Legislative Caucus for intervention. "So we need a committee that will work with PCC and set up that committee," he said.

Several citizens have embraced the statement made by the City Council Chairperson, terming it as the rightful move.

"I really endorse the statement made by that God-fearing man," several citizens pointed out on a local radio show.

 Since the inception of LIBENERGY in Maryland County, there have been several controversies regarding the purchase of meters.

Citizens are calling on the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to continue taking charge of the electricity in the county, instead of a private company.

It can be recalled that  the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission of recent order LIBENERGY amongs other things to meter all of her costumers.