Electricity consumers in Nigeria will face fines of up to N300,000 for bypassing their prepaid meters, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
This was stated in an amended Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-pass released on Tuesday. The fines range from N100,000 to N300,000, depending on the category of the customer.
For maximum demand customers, penalties will be between 450 and 600 per cent of their last recorded energy consumption if caught engaging in energy theft.
According to NERC, the Amended Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-pass replaces Order No: NERC/REG/41/2017 and took effect on January 22, 2025.
The commission stated that the amendment aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations 2023, which empower distribution companies to disconnect unauthorised connections without notice and prescribe reconnection conditions.
The order is aimed at curbing illegal access to electricity, meter tampering, and bypassing, while also setting clear reconnection guidelines to ensure compliance.
"Customers who bypass meters or gain unauthorised access must pay administrative charges, including meter replacement costs, before reconnection," NERC stated.
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The regulator emphasised that any customer found guilty of meter tampering or bypass will only be reconnected after paying the required penalties.
For non-maximum demand single-phase residential customers, the fine for a first offence is N100,000, while a second offence attracts N150,000.
Non-maximum demand three-phase customers will pay N200,000 for the first offence and N300,000 for subsequent violations.
Maximum demand customers are required to pay 450 per cent of their last recorded consumption for the first offence and 600 per cent for subsequent offences.
Meanwhile, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has raised concerns over the increasing cases of energy theft.
The DisCo warned that offenders caught stealing electricity would be charged to court, stating that the era of imposing only revenue loss penalties is over.
Ikeja Electric's Head of Corporate Communication, Kingsley Okotie, decried the rising incidents of energy theft, especially following the recent tariff adjustments 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," Okotie said.
He added that for Nigeria's power sector to remain sustainable, all stakeholders must join forces to combat electricity theft, which threatens the sector's stability.
Similarly, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has also identified energy theft—including meter bypass, illegal connections, and tampering with electrical infrastructure—as a significant challenge in the industry.
EKEDC spokesperson Babatunde Lasaki noted that these illegal activities result in substantial revenue losses annually, affecting the company's ability to invest in infrastructure upgrades and provide reliable electricity.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, Mrs. Rekhiat Momoh, appealed to customers to support efforts in eradicating energy theft, which she described as a major setback for the sector.
"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," Momoh said.
