MONROVIA, Liberia – The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has recovered nearly five megawatts (5MW) of illegally consumed electricity since launching its nationwide anti-power theft campaign, “Operation Sweep,” on February 12, 2026.
The state-owned utility says the ongoing crackdown is already yielding significant results as it intensifies enforcement against illegal connections and meter bypass schemes that have long undermined power stability across the country.
Speaking on the operation’s progress, LEC’s Head of Media, Communications and Public Affairs, Philip Kamara Faley, disclosed that approximately 251 individuals have been arrested in connection with electricity theft.
“Some of those arrested remain in detention, while others are paying substantial recovery fees amounting to hundreds of U.S. dollars,” Faley said, noting that the enforcement exercise is being carried out in collaboration with security agencies.
Targeting 10 Megawatts in Recovery
LEC has set an ambitious target of recovering at least 10MW of illegally consumed electricity through the operation.
Faley explained that the recovered energy will be redirected into the national grid to improve voltage stability and ensure fair distribution to paying customers.
“Electricity theft does not only deprive LEC of revenue—it affects the quality of service to honest customers who are paying their bills,” he emphasized. “This operation is about fairness, sustainability, and protecting the integrity of the power network.”
Power theft has historically been cited as one of the major challenges confronting LEC, contributing to revenue losses, transformer overloads, voltage fluctuations, and occasional localized outages.
Day and Night Enforcement
According to LEC, enforcement teams are now operating around the clock under direct supervision from senior management.
Daytime inspections primarily target residential neighborhoods and commercial communities suspected of illegal connections, while nighttime operations focus on high-consumption establishments.
These include entertainment centers, frozen food businesses, water production facilities, hotels, casinos, and select residences identified as having unusually high consumption patterns inconsistent with recorded billing data.
LEC officials say the data-driven approach is designed to identify irregularities through consumption analytics and field verification.
Public Cooperation Urged
The corporation has made it clear that enforcement will be applied uniformly, regardless of the status of offenders.
“No household or business found stealing electricity will be spared,” Faley warned, urging members of the public to report illegal connections via LEC’s hotline, 4600.
The corporation says community cooperation is critical to sustaining gains from the operation and protecting the country’s fragile electricity infrastructure.
Protecting the National Grid
As Liberia continues efforts to expand electricity access and stabilize supply, officials say tackling power theft remains central to the sector’s financial and operational viability.
By recovering nearly half of its 10MW target within weeks of the campaign’s launch, LEC believes “Operation Sweep” is beginning to shift the narrative—from tolerance of illegal connections to enforcement and accountability.
Authorities say the operation will continue nationwide until the recovery target is met and sustained compliance is achieved.
Follow The Liberian Post on Facebook and X (formerly twitter)
