Residents of Freetown are expressing growing frustration over worsening electricity outages across the capital, a development many say has dampened the high expectations that followed recent leadership changes in the country’s energy sector.When President Julius Maada Bio appointed new officials to oversee the energy sector, particularly at the Ministry of Energy and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), many citizens hoped the move would bring stability and improvement to Sierra Leone’s fragile electricity supply system. However, months after those appointments, residents say the situation has deteriorated instead of improving.Across several communities in the Western Area, households and businesses report experiencing prolonged power cuts lasting for hours and, in some cases, days. Many residents now describe the situation as an “upgraded blackout,” saying electricity supply has become even more unpredictable than before.The erratic power supply has disrupted daily life throughout the capital. Businesses that rely heavily on electricity—including restaurants, small shops, cyber cafés and cold storage facilities—say they are struggling to operate under the current conditions.Many business owners report being forced to rely almost entirely on fuel-powered generators to keep their operations running, a move that has significantly increased operational costs amid rising fuel prices.Households are also feeling the pressure. Residents say frequent outages make it difficult to store food, charge electronic devices and cope with the intense heat at night.The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) has acknowledged that certain areas of the capital have been experiencing outages, attributing the situation to faults within parts of the distribution network as well as broader infrastructure challenges affecting electricity supply.The issue gained further public attention after EDSA recently announced a load-shedding arrangement intended to rotate electricity supply among communities in order to manage limited generation capacity.While authorities say the plan is meant to stabilize the distribution system, many residents remain skeptical about whether the schedule will be consistently implemented.Energy sector observers point out that Sierra Leone’s electricity supply still depends heavily on a limited number of generation sources, including the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Power Station and the floating power plant operated by Karpowership. Any disruption or reduction in output from these facilities often leads to widespread outages across the Western Area.Sierra Leone has long struggled with electricity shortages due to limited generation capacity, aging infrastructure and growing demand in urban areas. Despite government commitments and investments aimed at expanding supply, reliable electricity remains a persistent challenge for many citizens.For now, residents of Freetown say they continue to endure long hours of darkness—hoping that the new leadership entrusted with the country’s energy sector will eventually deliver the improvements many expected.