…intensifies crackdown on energy theft, partners special task force
By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc said it has recorded no fewer than 8,000 cases of energy theft between January and October 2024.
The cases according to the company includes: meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, which has resulted in multi-million Naira financial losses.
To tame the menace, the company said it has ramped up its efforts against energy theft across its network by partnering with the Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences (SIPETO).
IBEDC said it is committed to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting individuals involved in energy theft.
Speaking, the Acting Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Francis Agoha, emphasized the company’s zero-tolerance stance on energy theft, highlighting the severe consequences for offenders.
He said “Energy theft is a significant challenge that impacts our ability to provide reliable service to our customers. We are intensifying our efforts through partnerships like this to ensure that those who engage in such practices face the full force of the law.
“Between January and October 2024, IBEDC recorded over 8,000 cases of energy theft, including meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, resulting in financial losses totaling hundreds of millions of naira.”
Engr. Agoha stressed the importance of the ongoing collaboration with SIPETO, saying “our partnership with the Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force is crucial. It not only enhances our capacity to detect and prosecute offenders but also sends a strong message that energy theft will not be tolerated. This undermines the integrity of our operations and deprives us of resources needed to improve service delivery.”
He urged the company’s customers to refrain from any form of energy theft, warning of the severe penalties, including imprisonment, as stipulated under the Electricity Act.
He furtehr assures the customers that SIPETO patrols are active and vigilant, investigating reported cases thoroughly, urging customers to report instances of energy theft to IBEDC’s customer service line or visit the company’s website.
