The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has streamlined set of procedures aimed at curbing electricity theft and meter bypass, saying such illegal activities are counterproductive to power stability in communities across the country.
It said:“Every bypassed meter and every stolen cable is a direct hit to your neighbourhood’s power stability underscoring the broader impact of energy theft on law-abiding consumers.”
The revised procedures,it explained, are designed to protect shared electricity infrastructure while ensuring that compliant customers are treated fairly and reconnected faster.
In a statement, the regulator said the updated rules would help distribution companies identify and eliminate illegal connections, meter tampering and vandalism more efficiently.
It noted that energy theft not only disrupts supply but also places additional financial burdens on other consumers and weakens the overall performance of the power sector.
It added that tackling these infractions is critical to improving service delivery and maintaining grid reliability.
It further emphasised that while enforcement would be strengthened to weed out illegal activity, due process and respect for consumer rights would remain central to its approach.
According to the regulator, law-abiding customers would benefit from clearer guidelines and faster reconnection timelines under the new framework.
It implored electricity users to safeguard installations in their communities and report suspicious activities to their distribution companies.
The regulator maintained that the measures form part of ongoing efforts to promote transparency, accountability and improved service across Nigeria’s electricity market.