- The new Electricity Act recommends punishment for energy theft, vandalism and assault on its officials.
- Energy theft, vandalism, and illicit metres have increased customers’ debt to IBEDC in Ogun State to over N67 billion.
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has vowed to prosecute anyone found vandalising its electrical installations and engaging in energy theft. The Managing Director of IBEDC, Engr. Kinsley Achife disclosed this during a stakeholders meeting in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. He explained that this action became expedient due to incessant cases of energy theft, vandalism, and illegal metre usage in the state.
Achife, represented by the Lead Media Officer of IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, stated that energy theft is a crime punishable under the law. According to him, the new Electricity Act, signed by President Bola Tinubu, recommended punishment for energy theft and assault on its officials. In addition, Achife said that the Electricity Act stipulates that whoever is caught using illegal power or assaulting IBEDC staff is liable to face the wrath of the law.
Furthermore, he appealed to the stakeholders to embrace unity with the staff of IBEDC. He lamented that electricity theft, vandalism, and illicit metres have increased customers’ debt to IBEDC in Ogun State. The debt is now over N67 billion; the Ijebu Ode area has over N7 billion. The MD also urged customers to avoid tampering with metres and vandalising electrical installations, which attracts 21-year imprisonment.
“We have called this meeting to seek better working relationships with our customers, but we cannot do this if they are not paying for the services rendered. Another thing is vandalism because the law states that one should not tamper with electrical installations, and in the case of vandalism, it attracts a 21-year jail term. We want to appeal to the people of Ijebu about power theft. We are losing billions of naira to energy theft. As we speak, Ogun State’s total debt is over N74 billion, with a total of NMD (Non-Maximum Demand customers) owing over N67 billion,” Achife added.