By Fiona Benson Kollie
Over repeated failure to honor legislative citation, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Lands, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment, has summoned the authorities of LIB Energy.
The entity is to show cause why the management should not be held in contempt for its repeated failure to honor legislative citations.
The citations are sometimes aimed to address electricity challenges in the Southeast (Maryland, River Gee, Grand Gedeh, and Tapita in Nimba County).
The decision was reached on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, during a committee hearing convened following communications from the Representatives of Nimba County District #6, and District #2.
The pair raised concerns over persistent electricity problems affecting their constituencies.
LIB Energy is a private electricity service provider operating under franchise arrangements. It is responsible for the generation, distribution, and retail of electricity in designated areas, particularly outside the Liberia Electricity Corporation’s core grid.
The areas are parts of Nimba County and the Southeastern region. Its operations involve the installation of lines, supplying transformers, metering customers, and maintaining power infrastructure.
The hearing was chaired by Grand Gedeh County District #2 Representative, Jeremiah Sokan.
Sokan expressed frustration that LIB Energy has consistently failed to appear before the Committee despite multiple invitations to provide updates on its operations, expansion plans and service delivery challenges.
He and other lawmakers also described the company’s conduct as a “pattern of disregard for legislative oversight,”
They noted that previous hearings had been postponed specifically to accommodate LIB Energy, only for the company to turn down the invite.
Rep. Sokan also informed management that the Legislature has a constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight over public utilities, especially those providing essential services such as electricity.
He added: “Failure by LIB Energy to account for its activities undermines transparency and accountability.”
Lawmakers at the hearing cited frequent power outages, unstable voltage, inadequate transformers, limited network expansion beyond major highways, and poor customer service as major complaints from residents in affected communities.
Representatives from the Southeast reported growing public dissatisfaction, with residents questioning whether electricity providers are meeting the obligations of their operating agreements.
Officials from LEC and the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) appeared before the Committee, and acknowledged their respective roles in supervising electricity providers.
However, committee members expressed disappointment over the limited documentation presented, stressing that regulatory authorities must be able to produce complete records, including licenses, franchise agreements, performance reports, expansion plans, staffing details, and compliance assessments for all licensed operators, including the LIB Energy.
LEC Managing Director, Mohammed Sherif, outlined ongoing efforts to stabilize the national power system, reduce technical and commercial losses, expand electricity access, and improve service delivery.
Sherif also referenced recent streetlight installations, and rural electrification initiatives, while pointing to financial constraints and the need for sustained legislative support through the national budget.
Despite these explanations, lawmakers maintained that meaningful oversight could not be achieved without the direct participation of LIB Energy, particularly given the company’s operational role in the Southeast, which continues to experience persistent power issues.
As a result, the Committee agreed to summon LIB Energy to appear and show cause why it should not be cited for contempt for repeatedly ignoring legislative invitations.
Members of the committee further warned that continued noncompliance could lead to the matter being escalated to Plenary for appropriate legislative action.
The Committee also resolved to reschedule the hearing, directing LEC and LERC to return with all requested documentations, while mandating the presence of LIB Energy at the next sitting.
Meanwhile, the Committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the full House following the rescheduled hearing.