•Records 1,459 cases in two months
Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc., has partnered the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences (SIPTEO) to stamp out energy theft within the distribution company network area.
The firm urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasising that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.
IBEDC’s Chief Key Accounts Officer, Johnson Tinuoye, who disclosed this in a statement, said the firm has recorded about 1,459 cases of energy theft between January and February this year from various offences.
The offences, he said, ranged from meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.
He stressed that IBEDC is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in energy theft.
He added that the escalating figures have prompted a strategic partnership with SIPTEO, a Federal Government agency dedicated to expediting investigation and prosecution of offenders within IBEDC’s franchise.
Tinuoye emphasised that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognised as a criminal offence, carrying severe penalties, including imprisonment.
Meanwhile, two individuals have been apprehended in Osun for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections.
Tinuoye said their cases have been charged in court for prosecution.
“We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with SIPTEO underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system.
“Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers, Tinuoye said.
