Bypass electric meter now, pay N450,000 fine or be jailed

Worried by rampant theft of power by way of meter bypass in several parts of the country, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has drafted sanction ranging from N50,000 to N450,000 for suspects.

Already, the regulator has secured the endorsement of the 11 electricity distribution companies operating in the country NERC’s decision has also been adopted by the Federal Government through the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.

However, analysts say the new policy may need to pass through the National Assembly before it could become binding and statutorily effective to administer.

Vice Chairman of NERC, Sanusi Garba, who spoke on the prepaid meter issues in Jos, said the amount being charged as financial sanctions depended on the class of power consumer.

His position was part of proceedings recorded as minutes during the last stakeholders meeting and it is yet to be ratified by council in the next meeting.