Electricity operators in Liberia are calling on the government to strengthen laws against power theft by making the offence non-bailable and imposing stiffer penalties.
The General Manager of Jungle Energy Power Liberia (JEP), Aliou M. Keita, has urged authorities to amend the 2019 Electricity Act to reclassify electricity theft from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony. He made the call during an interview with New Dawn on January 24, 2026, in Gompa City, Nimba County.
Keita said existing penalties for electricity theft, including meter tampering and illegal connections, are not strong enough to deter offenders. Under current legislation, offenders face a minimum prison term of two years and a fine of US$400. He argued that harsher punishment would help protect limited power supplies and improve electricity access nationwide.
According to Keita, only about 33 percent of Liberia’s population currently has access to electricity, with widespread theft further undermining efforts to expand supply to underserved communities. He warned that losses from illegal consumption constrain investment in the power sector and slow economic development.
Keita also noted that reducing electricity theft would support job creation and infrastructure development, stressing that improving the country’s energy sector requires collective responsibility from both government and citizens.
He expressed hope that the Legislature would consider revising the law to strengthen enforcement and support the expansion of reliable electricity across Liberia.