Electricity consumers will pay a fine of no less than N100,000 if they bypass their prepaid meters or engage in illegal connection, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
This was contained in an amended order on unauthorised access, meter tampering and y-pass released on Tuesday.
The fines range between N100,000 and N300,000, depending on the category the customer belongs to.
Maximum demand customers are to pay between 450 and 600 per cent of their last recorded energy consumption if caught in the act of energy theft.
According to the NERC, the Amended Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-pass replaces Order No: NERC/REG/41/2017 and has taken effect from January 22, 2025.
The regulator disclosed that the amendment aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations 2023, which allow distribution companies to disconnect unauthorised connections without notice and prescribe reconnection conditions.
The order, it was said, aims to reduce unauthorised access to electricity, meter tampering, and by-pass.
It is also to establish transparent reconnection guidelines to ensure compliance.
“Customers who bypass meters or gain unauthorised access must pay administrative charges (including meter replacement costs) and reconnection,” the order stated.
It emphasised that any customer who gains unauthorised access to electricity through tampering or meter by-pass will be reconnected upon payment of the administrative charges including meter replacement cost.
For non-maximum demand single-phase residential customers, the first offence attracts N100,000 and the subsequent offence attracts N150,000.
Also, non-maximum demand three-phase will pay a fine of N200,000 for the first offence and N300,000 for subsequent ones.
Similarly, maximum demand customers are to pay 450 per cent of their last recorded consumption and 600 per cent of it for the first and subsequent offences respectively.
Recently, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company lamented the rise in energy theft.
The DisCo threatened that offenders caught in the act of energy theft would be immediately charged to court, reiterating that the era of merely imposing loss of revenue penalty alone on offenders is over.
Ikeja Electric’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kingsley Okotie, lamented the increase in energy theft, especially following the implementation of the reviewed tariff on Band A feeders.
“The theft is massive and the company cannot guarantee meeting customer expectations if this ugly trend continues. Ironically, some perpetrators believe that if they haven’t been caught, there are no consequences. This is false, and we must change the narrative,” he said.
Okotie stated that for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to survive, all stakeholders must fight in unison against theft, as the pilfering of electricity hinders the stability of the sector.
Similarly, the spokesperson of Eko Disco, Babatunde Lasaki, identified energy theft, which includes meter bypass and tampering, illegal connections, and tampering with electrical infrastructure, as a significant challenge facing Nigeria’s power sector.
According to Lasaki, these unlawful activities result in a substantial loss of revenue annually, ultimately affecting the company’s ability to invest in network improvements and provide quality service to paying customers.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, Mrs Rekhiat Momoh, appealed to customers to support the organisation in its move to eradicate energy theft and other associated illegal activities hindering its growth.
Momoh said, “Energy theft is a menace that we need to eliminate in our network and the power sector. We lose billions annually to it and it affects our ability to invest in network expansion and infrastructure upgrades required to bring the desired stable power supply.”
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
_______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
______________________________________________________________________
“Bridging Theory And Courtroom Practice” — Hagler Sunny Okorie, Nathaniel Ngozi Ikeocha Unveil ‘Functional’ Tort Law Book For Nigerian Legal System
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
