OpEd: EDSA Must Stop Taking Its Customers for Granted

As a final-year and first-year Mass Communication student at the University of Makeni, and someone who works from home, I rely heavily on a stable electricity supply for my studies and daily activities. Unfortunately, frequent power outages and low voltage from the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) have been extremely frustrating.

Just a few weeks ago, before EDSA announced its routine annual maintenance on the Bumbuna Hydro Electric Power Dam, which would result in a power outage from the 10th to the 23rd of May, I was in the middle of an important online meeting with my boss when the power went out unexpectedly. When the electricity returned, the voltage was so low that several of my appliances were damaged beyond repair.

This situation is not unique to me; many households, businesses, offices, and places of worship in Sierra Leone have experienced similar disruptions. Despite these issues, EDSA recently urged specific categories of customers—MDIS, MDAS, churches, and mosques—to immediately pay their outstanding debts while neglecting to address their persistent service failures that affect the operations and daily activities of these and other customers. This feels deeply unfair.

I firmly oppose non-payment of debts and tampering with meters, as outlined in Section 68 of the National Electricity Act of 2011. This section states that anyone who dishonestly abstracts, consumes, or uses electricity, alters any meter, or prevents any meter from recording accurately commits an offense and is liable to a fine of not less than fifty million old Leones or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

However, it is equally important for EDSA not to take us for granted. It is high time EDSA upholds its responsibility to provide adequate, reliable, and high-quality electricity service as enshrined in both the Consumer Protection Act of 2020 and the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act of 2011.

For instance, Section 49(1)(a) and (b) of the Consumer Protection Act of 2020 explicitly outlines the rights of consumers regarding service performance. It states that consumers have the right to timely performance and completion of services, along with timely notice of any unavoidable delays. Services must be performed in a manner and quality that consumers generally expect. EDSA’s frequent power outages and low voltage clearly violate these rights. We have endured unreliable and inconsistent electricity service without adequate communication or resolution from EDSA, which directly breaches this provision.

Similarly, Section 39(1)(a), (b), and (c) of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act of 2011 mandates public utilities like EDSA to maintain their equipment and property to provide effective services. They must also ensure that services are safe, adequate, efficient, reasonable, and non-discriminatory, and they are required to make necessary repairs, changes, extensions, and improvements. Yet, EDSA has continually failed to meet these obligations. The persistent power outages and low voltage demonstrate a lack of adequate maintenance and failure to provide efficient and reliable services. There have been numerous instances where power lines in Freetown were damaged, and the affected community had to contribute money to fix the problem by contacting EDSA personnel or other electricians who should be responsible for these repairs.

Moreover, the National Electricity Act of 2011, under Section 36, imposes a duty on EDSA to supply electricity. Despite this, EDSA seems to prioritize enforcing penalties for outstanding debts rather than adhering to their responsibilities under this Act to supply electricity consistently and reliably.

Given these provisions, one might wonder why EDSA’s focus is more on debt collection and enforcement of penalties for non-payment, while disregarding their continuous service failures, consumer rights, and legal responsibilities. While it is understood that operational expenses need to be covered, EDSA must also recognize that their erratic service has caused significant losses and damage to families, homes, offices, appliances, documents, and other properties. Have they ever considered compensating or apologizing for the damages and inconveniences caused by their erratic electricity service and frequent outages? We deserve better. We have suffered from frequent power outages that disrupt our operations and cost us money. EDSA must start taking us seriously, or we will consider legal action. We are not fools. Please, take this seriously.