The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has raised a strong alarm over increasing incidents of energy theft, cautioning its customers against illegal activities such as meter tampering, bypassing, and unauthorised connections that could undermine the quality of power supply.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Ibadan, Angela Olanrewaju, Coordinating Head of Corporate Services at IBEDC, reiterated the company’s firm stance against such infractions, noting that offenders would face serious consequences under existing laws.
She pointed out that energy theft, which includes bypassing meters, tapping lines, and connecting to power sources without authorisation, attracts criminal and administrative sanctions.
“Energy theft is bypass of meters, line tapping or unauthorised connection to power and non-payment or vending,” she explained.
Olanrewaju said individuals found guilty could face prison terms ranging from three to five years or be subjected to fines for bypassing meters or engaging in illegal electrical connections.
“IBEDC is empowered to disconnect offenders without notice and also offenders will bear the costs, including meter replacement, reconnection charges, and administrative fines,” she added.
To tackle the menace, Olanrewaju said the company has implemented several strategic measures to discourage illegal practices and enhance operational efficiency.
She warned that tampering with electricity meters not only disrupts power delivery but also poses grave dangers such as fire outbreaks and electrocution.
She also emphasised that such illegal actions deprive the entire electricity value chain of critical revenue needed for infrastructural upgrades and service improvements.
“Since early 2024, we have been working closely with the Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences (SIPTEO) to identify, investigate, and prosecute meter tampering, bypass, and illegal reconnection.
“We are deploying standard meter installation to keep meters out of the reach of customers, we are also deploying smart meters to monitor and detect infractions through Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI),” she said.
On IBEDC’s ongoing efforts to ensure fair and accurate billing, Olanrewaju noted that the company has intensified its meter distribution drive through various government-backed and internal initiatives.
“These initiatives include Presidential Metering Initiative-PMI; Disco Sector Recovery Programme-(DISREP); Meter Acquisition Fund-MAF; Rollout scheme (DisCo & Vendor financing).”
“Others include Meter Asset Provider (MAP), where customers can apply via IBEDC’s official portal, receive meter IDs, pay, and expect installation within 10 working days,” she said.
According to her, the collective impact of these programs has enabled the company to install tens of thousands of prepaid meters, aiming to reach over 60 per cent metering coverage by the close of 2025.
