Meter Tampering, By-pass Attract N300, 000 Fine

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has increased the penalties for tampering with electricity meters, bypassing and other offences by electricity consumers.

With this review, consumers caught tampering with their meters will face significant financial penalties.

For non-Maximum Demand (MD) meters, the fine for a first offence is set at N100,000 for single-phase meters and N200,000 for three-phase meters. Subsequent violations will attract higher penalties of N150,000 and N300,000, respectively.

The NERC made this known in its newly-issued revised Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-pass posted on NERC’s X account on Tuesday.

However, the commission placed a maximum demand cap of 450 per cent of last recorded consumption on first time offenders while subsequent offenders can be made to pay up to 600 per cent 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 clarified that if DisCos fail to reconnect a customer within 48 hours after payment, they must compensate with 100 per cent 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.

The revised order grants Distribution Companies (DisCos) the authority to disconnect unauthorised connections without prior notice and prescribes clear conditions for reconnection.

The commission emphasised that stricter enforcement would help curb electricity theft, improve revenue collection for DisCos and ultimately enhance service delivery.

The commission urged consumers to ensure compliance with metering regulations to avoid fines and disconnection.

Additionally, DisCos has been directed to launch awareness campaigns to educate customers on the legal and financial consequences of meter tampering, emphasising the need to regularise their electricity connections.

The commission said the new order, which took effect on 22 January 2025, aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations (CPR) 2023 to strengthen enforcement against electricity theft and ensure compliance with metering regulations.

The objectives of the amendment include: Reducing unauthorised access to electricity, meter tampering, and by-pass; Establishing transparent reconnection guidelines to ensure compliance and deter future violations.