PHED decries 25% spike in electricity related infractions
Vows to deploy NERC Order against defaulters
Ani Bassey
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company has decried the rising level of electricity related infractions within its franchise area which stands at 25%.
These infractions which constitutes a sabotage comprises all forms of unauthorized access to electricity, Meter Tampering and By-Pass.
The distribution company said it will invoke the relevant laws to prosecute consumers who engage in the practice.
Olubukola Ilevbare, Head, Corporate Communications of the company made this known in a release.
According to her, “This move has become imperative as the management of the company has observed with dismay, a spike in electricity related infractions
by 25% which gravely threatens the sustainability of the company.
“The company can no longer bear the shock/bleeding occasioned by these diverse forms of sabotage as she went ahead to enlighten customers on the types of infractions.
“Unauthorized Access is a situation where members of the public receive electricity supply without any valid authorization while Meter Tampering happens when end users deliberately break the meter seal or meddle with the components in the meter to compromise its functionality.
“Meter Bypass which is the most frequent infraction, is the purposeful diversion of load from the meter to
prevent it from accurately reading/recording electricity consumption thereby shortchanging the company”, she said.
She also disclosed that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently introduced Order No.: NERC/2024/148 with huge
fines/penalties to tackle this menace and combat electricity theft and illegal connections.
She explained that based on the NERC order, “first time offenders with a single phase meter will be fined 100,000 while subsequent offenders will be fined 150,00.
“First time offenders with three phase meters will pay 200,000 fine while subsequent offenders will pay a fine of 300,000.
“Similarly, maximum demand consumers who are first time offenders will pay a fine of 450% of the last recorded monthly consumption while subsequent offenders will pay a fine of 600% of the last recorded monthly consumption”, she said.
Besides this, she disclosed that there are other administrative/sundry charges applicable to these infractions.
She further disclosed that the management of the company is collaborating with the law enforcement agencies to prosecute serial offenders in line with extant laws.
