NERC Slams N100, 000, N200,000 Penalties on Meter Bypass
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced new penalties for individuals and businesses involved in electricity meter bypassing and unauthorized access.
According to NERC, the measures, was part of a revised ‘Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-pass,’ and was posted on the commission’s official X page.
NERC said the policy, which aims to curb electricity theft, came into effect on January 22, 2025.
It said the new penalties aligned with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations (CPR) 2023, which permited Distribution Companies (DisCos) to disconnect unauthorized connections without prior notice and establish clear guidelines for reconnection.
The regulatory body stated that the revised order was introduced to strengthen enforcement against electricity theft, meter tampering, and unauthorized access, ensuring compliance with established metering regulations.
It noted that the move was expected to improve transparency in reconnection processes and reduce incidents of illegal power cosumption.
