Distribution Company Complains Of Increase In Energy Swindling

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company has complained on the increase in energy swindling in the past three months of the Band A tariff increase.

The distribution company then threatened to charge any offender being caught to court, emphasizing on, no more payments of penalties alone for offenders.

In an announcement being made at the company’s July Stakeholders Forum, Kingsley Okotie, the Head of Corporate Communications, for Ikeja Electricity Distribution, said:

“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. The Electricity Value Chain, as well as the company can not survive if energy swindling goes unchecked.”

He further said, for the Electricity supply industry to progress, all stakeholders must unionise in order to fight the energy swindling, because energy theft will hinder the stability of the sector. He noted that whatsoever happens In the power supply industry, affects the whole sectors.

He continued by saying: “To reinforce the company’s commitment, IE is incentivising whistleblowing by rewarding those who report any illegality and theft of electricity. Persons who submit verified reports on Non-Maximum Demand (Residential & SMEs) offenders will get up to 10 percent of the reconnection fee paid by the offender while for Maximum Demand (commercial & industrial) offenders, whistle-blowers will get up to 5 percent of the reconnection fees paid by the offender.

“Energy theft is a criminal offense under the Electricity Act, attracting a sentence between six months to three years imprisonment. Interfering with meters or the works of licensees carries a sentence of three years imprisonment. Ikeja Electric can, under the law, prosecute people and companies for the criminal offence of energy theft.

“In line with regulations stipulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. The NERC Order on unauthorised access, meter tampering, and bypass allows DisCos to disconnect customers illegally connected to their network. Reconnection is only possible after offenders have paid for the loss of revenue by paying back-bills established by the DisCo, along with reconnection costs and administrative charges.”

It was reported that customers categorized under Band A, are paying over N209 per kilowatt-hour instead of N68/kWh following the removal of electricity subsidies.

Businesses, individuals, including academic institutions has been lamenting over the increase in electricity tariff.