NERC Introduces Stiffer Penalties for Meter Tampering and Bypassing

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has warned electricity consumers and businesses found guilty of bypassing electricity meters, of a new fine order while reinforcing its stance against power theft.

The regulator in a revised Order on “Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering, and Bypass” posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, NERC outlined new regulations to curb illegal connections.

The new order, NERC said seeks to reduce unauthorised access to electricity, meter tampering, and by-pass, and to also establish transparent reconnection guidelines to ensure compliance.

This replaces the previous directive, Order No: NERC/REG/41/2017, and took effect on 22 January 2025.

The order aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations (CPR) 2023, reinforcing compliance measures and ensuring better enforcement against meter violations.

Under the new framework, distribution companies (DisCos) now have the authority to disconnect illegal connections without prior notice. According to the order, clear reconnection guidelines have also been established, ensuring transparency and discouraging repeat offences.

The regulator warned that consumers caught tampering with their meters will face significant financial penalties

For non-Maximum Demand (MD) meters, the fine for a first offence is set at N100,000 for single-phase meters and N200,000 for three-phase meters. Subsequent violations will attract higher penalties of N150,000 and N300,000, respectively.

The commission has urged consumers to ensure compliance with metering regulations to avoid fines and disconnection.