The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued an amended Order detailing new threshold of penalties for customers and Distribution Companies (DIsCos) on “Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-Pass.”

In a statement, the Amended Order, which replaces Order No: NERC/REG/41/2017, became effective since January 22, 2025.

This amendment, the regulator said, “aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations (CPR) 2023, which allow Distribution Companies (DisCos) to disconnect unauthorised connections without notice and prescribe reconnection conditions.”

For the objectives, the electricity industry regulator maintained that the order aims to achieve two things.

The first, according to NERC is to “reduce unauthorised access to electricity, meter tampering, and by-pass; and to establish transparent reconnection guidelines to ensure compliance.”

It proffered three key provisions on reconnection Conditions & Charges; Administrative Charges; and Compensation for Delayed Reconnection.”

A detailed summary of other items in the New Order and implications on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-Pass For customers, and 11 DisCos include: the Amended Order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and By-pass replaces Order No: NERC/REG/41/2017 and has taken effect from 22 January 2025 amendment aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations (CPR) 2023, which allow Distribution Companies (DisCos) to disconnect unauthorised connections without notice and prescribe reconnection conditions.

The order also said customers who by-pass meters or gain unauthorised access must pay administrative charges (including meter replacement costs) and reconnection costs.

Others include: Administrative Charges: Any customer that gains unauthorised access to electricity through tampering or meter by-pass will be reconnected upon payment of the administrative charges including meter replacement cost which shall not exceed the sum outlined below:

Non-MD Single Phase: (Residential) with first Offense will pay N100,000 while he/she will pay N150,000 for subsequent Offense. Non-MD Three Phase (Residential) customers will pay N200k for the first Offense and pay N300k for subsequent Offense. Maximum Demand (MD) customers will pay a fine of 450 per cent of last recorded consumption for the first Offense and 600 per cent of last recorded consumption for a subsequent Offense.

If disconnected, the Non-MD customer will pay N10,000 while the MD customers will part ways with N50,000 to be reconnected. Compensation for delayed reconnection: 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. Customers guilty of unauthorised access must pay for the loss of revenue through back-billing at the prevailing tariff.

Credit: thenationonlineng.net