Nigeria’s Electricity Regulator Introduces Stricter Penalties for Electricity
The NERC made this known in its newly-issued revised Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-pass posted on NERC’s X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday. This replaces Order No: NERC/REG/41/2017.
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 revised order grants Distribution Companies (DisCos) the authority to disconnect unauthorised connections without prior notice and prescribes clear conditions for reconnection. 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.
New Fines for Offenders
NERC has introduced stiffer financial penalties for electricity consumers found guilty of meter tampering and by-pass. The revised fines are as follows: Non-MD (Maximum Demand) Single-phase meters
First offence: N100,000
Subsequent offence: N150,000
Non-MD Three-phase meters
First offence: N200,000
Subsequent offence: N300,000
The commission emphasized that stricter enforcement would help curb electricity theft, improve revenue collection for DisCos, and ultimately enhance service delivery.