The potential of Nigeria’s electricity metering market is currently worth N150bn, but the rising cases of electricity theft among consumers in the corporate and household levels is undermining this prospect.

Local meter manufacturers and distributors, power distribution companies, among others, have continued to raise the alarm over this menace, as the same has so far resulted in huge revenue loss. This, therefore, implies that a large quantum of power consumed is not paid for.

Also, the huge metering deficit which has characterised the nation’s electricity market may not provide the expected market opportunities as some people have resorted to electricity theft, which can defeat the adoption of the meters, especially prepaid ones.

Theft of electricity is the criminal practice of stealing electric power. It is a crime punishable by heavy fines and, in some cases, incarceration.

The most basic method of stealing electricity is a direct wire-connection to a main power route passing by a house or shop so that electricity can flow to the consumer without crossing the electric meter installed by a government agency that is responsible for providing electrical services to customers.

Other methods may include opening the meter itself, without damaging its seals and reversing the dials, a complicated procedure that requires expert skill.

To this end, Sir Collins Onyeama, the Managing Director, Techno Gas and Power, manufacturers of prepaid meters in Nigeria, told our correspondent that electricity theft remained a major challenge for meter manufacturers in the country, the power distribution companies and the power sector as a whole.

According to him, the menace results in a huge loss for operators in the sector, as operators end up not getting value for services rendered.

He stressed that people benefitting from such practices can never appreciate the importance of prepaid meters.

“The Nigerian meter market is worth over N150bn, and rising cases of power theft will only undermine this,” he added.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje, also admitted the huge challenges posed by this unfortunate practice by some Nigerians.

He said that about 136,000 customers within the company had been installed with prepaid meters to date, while about 36,000 were found to have been by-passing meter which posed a serious challenge to the company.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company recently raised the alarm over the rate at which some customers under its network illegally used electricity and failed to pay for the utility afterwards.

The company also admitted that there were now increasing cases of consumers who were bypassing approved cable route to “steal” electricity.

The IBEDC Managing Director, Mr. Fortunato Leynes, also said meters were also being tampered with, coupled with diversion of wires from the meters and running of the same through the ceilings, thereby bypassing electric meters.

“These acts are offences and are punishable by law. We also know that there are several rampant direct connections, which make people to enjoy electricity without paying a single kobo,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said it will not allow the importation of electricity meters into the country as long as local manufacturers have the capacity to meet demand.



http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/rising-electricity-theft-cases-threaten-n150bn-meter-market/

How can I bypass a meter that is not been installed in my house? The DISCOs are the thieves who give outrageous estimated bills for power not consumed. The DISCOs want to use this as an excuse not to issue meters to consumers. Consumers should vehemently resist this excuse.

DISCOs, issue meters to consumers NOW or forget payment of bills.

A case of the hunter becoming the hunted?
No Light for close to a month, yet there is huge electricity bill at the end of the month, how is that possible?
Nigerians are long suffering but when pushed to the wall, they would usually come up with ingenious ways to survive. Guess this is one of the ways.

y I no go tweak d meter wen d thieves go come giv be me 20k bill wen na only 4 nyt I dey use d light sef cos I dey go work.. in fact,Wia my screew driver make I go adjust am again b4 dem go come knock my door

...and we blame government for lack of electricity.

Motivation here is the key and in this case, a two way thing. You give me enough electricity to make me willingly pay you on one hand and you pay me to give you enough electricity on the other hand. The question now is, who goes first?

welcome to naija . i know a guy whose meter doesnt move from the previous meter reading even after 6 months of constant consumption. that meter is not fool proof

Will dis gif us stable electricity? www..com

Ghfdk

Na everything we dey thief for Nigeria ni?

Which way Naija?

Nigerians waiting on Tomas Edison

noted

aww... jux making font page like water......... ebami dupe lowo jesu.

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It would be a lot better if they gave us more meters....prepaid meters.

Billing is so painful.

ayusco85:
ok

Yea..

I am guilty as charge. what u go no do to me. after paying over N200, 000 in over estimated bills. I have to do d needful.

stalyf:
H

mcdokwe:
J

MillionDollars:
Ghfdk

The above are members of the board of the Space Bookers DISCO.

You guys are talking of stealing electricity now but when they bring outrageous bills without us having light they will not say anything.

Discos should incur the cost of purchasing meters and install free to electricity consumers. The meter is very important in ensuring their cash flow and I see no reason why they should pass that expense to consumers.

Also the premium at which meters are sold is just outrageous. They should fix their value chain and stop complaining about consumers.

Ok

bushdoc9919:




The above are members of the board of the Space Bookers DISCO.

Please address us properly next time.
We Board of Directors, Nairaland and not just members

It's payback time by ordinary Nigerians,FG shouldn't complain.

...and whose money it is in da first and last places?!

...hmmmm...on top d epileptic power supply abi?...dis government..so e dey pain dem like dat??...rotfl..who knows how i can revert the dials of my meter?..time to be wicked to the wicked government..thought they are giving power to other nations,ours should be free then!..mttchhheeewww

then govt shuld take care of the debt..for my town here weneva its 3-4dayz to month end they will give us constant power nd by ending of dat month dey will be xpectin pple to pay for a month light dey didn't use, carrying ladder up nd down..well its not naija pples fault na govt we go blame

hian!

two space in a frontpage topic..sign of gud thinz


well this space is for sale..contact me for negotiation immediately

So its now an issue abi. Hwy won't they do it when in a month you give them power for say 10days and you give them of a moth, then again if there is a problem with power you still bill them. Pls do the right thing and others will fall into places

Someone has been stealing funds and is looking for someone to transfer the blame on.

Welcome to Nigeria. But how do we steal what is unavailable?

like if u feel tariff for prepaid meters ia getting outrageous