MONROVIA – The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) in collaboration with line ministries, agencies and stakeholders have validated the draft Certification and Licensing of Electrical Professionals and Contractors Regulation, and Wiring Regulations and Liberia Electrical Wiring Code.
The draft Certification and Licensing of Electrical Professionals and Contractors Regulations sets standards for electrical professionals and contractors undertaking electrical work while the Wiring Regulations and Liberia Electrical Wiring Code establishes requirements, procedures, and practices for the enforcement of minimum standards for distribution of electrical energy in all types of structures and construction works.
The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners (BoC) Dr. Lawrence D. Sekajipo informed participants that the Commission had embarked on the exercise in keeping with “best regulatory practices and have engaged stakeholders, development partners and affected parties for their meaningful inputs and recommendations”.
“The successful completion of the validation begins a new milestone in the history of electricity regulation and sends an unequivocal message that the LERC is prepared to regulate the electricity sector and provide an enabling environment for a safe, stable and reliable electricity thereby improving the economic sector of the country”, the Chairman of the BoC asserted.
On behalf of the BoC, Dr. Sekajipo, thanked the European Union, National Authorizing Office (NAO) at the Ministry of Finance and Development for support to the drafting and validating of the two regulations.
The validation process led by the Commission brought together representatives from line Ministries and agencies of Government that include Mines and Energy Public Works, Education, EPA, RREA, tertiary and vocational institutions, electricity operators, solar PV installers, renewable energy firms, among others.
The Mines and Energy representative Mr. Kelvin K. Gongbaye, Assistant Director for Energy Efficiency, Conservation & Environment, lauded the Commission for initiating the process and assured the Commission that the Ministry will provide support to the process. He informed participants that the ministry is currently working on a biodiversity policy for Liberia.
The three validated regulations will be submitted to the Board of Commissioners for approval. The head of the Technical Regulations Unit at the Commission, Engineer Abu Dekontee Sanso informed participants that implementation of the three regulations will the three regulatory instruments shall come into force immediately upon the LERC Board of Commissioners approval and following a transitional period of Two years, penalties and fines for non-compliance shall be imposed.
In early February, the Commission held a two-day technical workshop for stakeholders to review and make inputs into the three regulations.
