MONROVIA, Montserrado – In the wake of the recent power fluctuation in several communities in Monrovia, the Liberia Electricity Corporation’s public relations manager, Mambu James Kpargoi, has attributed the situation to overgrown trees falling on transmission and distribution lines.

Residents in communities including Capitol Bypass, Sinkor, Fiamah, Old and New Matadi Estates, Old Road, and Congo Town have been experiencing power fluctuations in their homes for over a week now.

On Friday, December 7, Kpargoi told The Bush Chicken in an exclusive interview that the power fluctuation is a result of LEC crews clearing the overgrown trees on its transmission and distribution lines.

“Such has led to the disruptions in normal power supply in some communities,” he said.

“LEC will always be involved in the clearing of overgrown vegetation over its transmission and distribution lines in the dry season.”

He called the power fluctuation “sporadic” and said LEC’s technical team had been working on a circuit that runs from Capitol Bypass to Congo Town.

Mambu James Kpargoi, public relations manager at the Liberia Electricity Corporation. Photo: Zeze Ballah

With the dry season now approaching, Kpargoi said LEC’s crews will be more routinely performing such maintenance work on transmission and distribution lines.

He avoided giving a specific timeframe for when the current issues would be resolved, however, Kpargoi said crews were working around the clock and that “the situation will be resolved in the soonest possible time.”

“We would like to apologize to our numerous customers in the affected communities for the inconveniences they are experiencing as a result of the power fluctuation,” he added.

Kpargoi also drew additional attention to the disruptions caused by power theft and illegal connections.

“The overloading of transformers by unscrupulous individuals leads to power fluctuation in communities,” he said.

Many residents have had to maintain a generator and purchase fuel to ensure that food products stored in the freezers and refrigerators remain preserved.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah