In a major step to check increasing cases of electricity theft in the country, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced fines for meter tampering and by-pass for all categories of customers, effective January 22, 2025.
This was contained in the Amended Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering and By-Pass issued and made available by the Commission on Tuesday.
NERC in the Order held that any customers who by-pass meters or gain unauthorised access must pay administrative charges, including meter replacement costs and reconnection costs.
The Commission ordered that any Residential customer (Single Phase) who gains unauthorised access to electricity through tampering or meter by-pass would be reconnected upon payment of the administrative charges, including meter replacement cost which shall not exceed the sum of N100,000 for First Offense, and N150,000 for Subsequent Offense.
While Three Phase customer would pay N200,000 for First Offense, and N300,000 for Subsequent Offense.
Meanwhile, for Maximum Demand (MD) customer who gains unauthorised access would attract 450% of last recorded consumption for First Offense, and 600% of last recorded consumption.
NERC added that Non-MD and MD customers who committed the above offense would be made to pay reconnection costs of N10,000 and N50,000 respectively.
It however, clarified that if DisCos fail to reconnect a customer within 48 hours after payment, they must compensate with 100% of daily energy consumption in energy credit.
It also noted that customers guilty of unauthorised access must pay for the loss of revenue through back-billing at the prevailing tariff.
NERC said the amended order which replaced the Order No: NERC/REG/41/2017, aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations (CRR) 2023, which allows Distribution Companies (DisCos) to disconnect unauthorised connections without notice and prescribe reconnection conditions.
The aims, according to NERC, is to reduce unauthorised access to electricity, meter tampering, and by-pass, and to also establish transparent reconnection guidelines to ensure compliance.
