IE Talks Tough on Energy Theft, Reaffirms Penalties for Offenders

AgegePulse Magazine 

Lagos, Nigeria; July 20, 2024:

Nigeria's leading Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric Plc (IE), reiterates that offenders caught in the act of energy theft will be immediately charged to court. The company emphasized that the era of merely imposing loss of revenue (LOR) penalty alone on offenders is over, as it will now enforce the full weight of the law against offenders.

The Company made this announcement at its July Stakeholders Forum, a monthly enlightenment meeting aimed at educating its customers about the company's activities and laudable initiatives to foster improved service delivery.

Mr. Kingsley Okotie, Ikeja Electric's Head of Corporate Communication, lamented the increase in energy theft, especially over the last three months following implementation of the reviewed tariff on Band A feeders. He noted that the company and the entire electricity value chain cannot survive if theft goes unchecked.

"The theft is massive and the company cannot guarantee meeting customer expectations if this ugly trend continues. Ironically, some perpetrators believe that if they haven't been caught, there are no consequences. This is false, and we must change the narrative," he said.

Okotie stated that for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to survive, all stakeholders must fight in unison against theft, as pilfering of electricity hinders the stability of the sector. He emphasized that whatever happens to the Distribution Companies (Discos) affects the entire NESI.

Speaking on strategies to curb theft, the company's spokesman mentioned that the whistleblowing platform is a very effective way for customers and well-meaning Nigerians to report incidents anonymously. He added that the platform is managed independently of the business, ensuring customers identity remain anonymous and highly confidential.

To reinforce the company's commitment, IE is incentivizing whistleblowing by rewarding those who report any illegality and theft of electricity. Persons who submit verified reports on Non-Maximum Demand (Residential & SMEs) offenders will get up to 10% of the reconnection fee paid by the offender while for Maximum Demand (Commercial & Industrial) offenders, whistle-blowers will get up to 5% of the reconnection fees paid by the offender.

He further explained that energy theft is a criminal offence under the Electricity Act, attracting a sentence between 6 months to 3 years imprisonment. Interfering with meters or the works of licensees carries a sentence of 3 years imprisonment. Ikeja Electric can, under the law, prosecute people and companies for the criminal offence of energy theft.

In line with regulations stipulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the NERC Order on unauthorized access, meter tampering, and bypass allows Discos to disconnect customers illegally connected to their network. Reconnection is only possible after offenders have paid for the loss of revenue by paying back-bills established by the Disco, along with reconnection costs and administrative charges.

The IE spokesperson urged customers to take advantage of the new whistleblowing platform to report energy theft. The whistleblowing channels include:

  *   Toll-free Hotlines: 0800-TIP-OFFS (0800 847 6337)
  *   Web Portal: www.ikejaelectric.com/whistleblowing<http://www.ikejaelectric.com/whistleblowing>
  *   Email: expressyourself@ikejaelectric.com
  *   Mobile App: Download the Deloitte Tip-offs Anonymous App on Android or iOS devices

For customer complaints, use the official complaints resolution channels via phone at 0201-7000-250, 0201-227-2940, or send an email to customercare@ikejaelectric.com.


Best Regards

Agege Youth Protest Over Ikeja Electric Estimated Bill | AgegePulse Magazine

The Youth Wing of Dopemu Agege, on Thursday 15th of October, 2020, carried out a Peaceful Protest  against extortion and exorbitant electricity charges by the IKEDC, Dopemu Branch. 

The Youths numbering over 70, carried placards and peaceful protested the constant increase in electricity tariff at the branch office of Ikeja Electricity Distro in Dopemu, Lagos State. 

The Youths made it clear that the protest was aimed at “liberating Dopemu residents from monthly Electricity extortion.’

AgegePulse learnt that IKEDC kept increasing their monthly estimated bills from N3, 000 up to as much as 80,000 for apartments & Shop owners who reside in a low income Community. 

"We all have family financial responsibilities and cannot afford to be billed so exorbitantly each month. 

It is either they reduce the Electricity Charges or they disconnect their light," Concluded by the Youths. 

The Youths said the electricity bill kept increasing more than a 100 per cent every month.

"I believe that if they give us prepaid meter it will be best for us, but as long as they give us estimated billing, they will continue to exploit us", 

IKEDC is using us to enrich their pockets, that is why they have refused to give us prepaid meters upon several requests by some Residents. 

Dopemu Agege Youth Wing took the Peaceful Protest to  Oshodi Abeokuta Express way to Express their displeasure with IKEDC Dopemu branch for extorting innocent Nigerians of their hard earned money

#NotoCRAZYBill #ReduceElectricitytariff #ElectricityChargesistoohigh #WecantContinuetopayforwhatwedontuse.

Electricity: Lagos Assembly Charges distribution companies On Regular Power Supply

...demand better deal for constituents during and after the lockdown.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has tasked the power Distributing Companies within Lagos territory, to be more humane in the discharge of their statutory duties, ensuring Lagosians enjoy considerable power supply, within and after the COVID-19 pandemic period.

This charge was made through a Joint Committee of the House constituted by the Speaker, Rt Hon.Mudashiru Obasa to make an oversight visit to the two Distribution Companies; EKO and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in order to fine tune means through which people can get power supply, while they comply with the stay at home directives in place.

The Joint Committee which comprised of House Committee on Energy and Mineral resources and; that of Information, Security and Strategy headed by Hon.Folajimi Mohammed with the mandate to visit the distribution networks (DISCO)in Lagos state.

Speaking after the visit, the Joint Committee Chairman Folajimi Mohammed appraised the situation, which necessitated the visit as peoples comfort need to be guaranteed while observing the stay at home order through steady power supply.

"During the COVID-19 period we have seen that there is an order for a lockdown, and this has caused a lot of discomfort to our constituents,to this end we were asked to visit the DISCOs and find out issues as to why there has been insufficient supply of electricity to most parts of Lagos State.



"One thing was pertinent about the meeting, they DISCOs accepted and admitted the flaws, however, they urged that we look at this holistically considering different value chains within the sphere of the departments, so as it is, we can't necessarily put most of the blame on the DISCOs.

"However, we have asked that they give us a road map as to how they want to ensure effective distribution of power to the people.

" I am glad that Ikeja DISCO has honoured the request by giving their words and promised to appoint people who would directly relate with us at the House of Assembly for onward transfer to our constituents whom we represent.

"We can't but appeal to our constituents to be calm at this time ,we understand these are tough times and from the reports and what we have been shown they have actually generated full capacity , but, they still have Infrastructural challenges, so we need to understand that without those infrastructure in place most things would not be done.

"So I would only try to appeal to the people and all constituents to kindly bear with them as they have been looking at the best way to profer solutions to this hardship.

Hon. Tunde Braimoh, the House Chairman on  Information,Security and Strategy in his own submission after the parley noted that it is of essence for the general public to own the available infrastructures as the energy theft is causing people a lot of needless stress.

"Government is about the people we are not just there for aggradisement or grandstanding of being in government,we must be purposefully useful and effective to the people that we serve.

"The supply of electricity power is one of the basic yearnings of our people because electricity remains the most important innovations of humanity in the last one thousand years and nobody  can joke with the importance of electricity.

That is why we have to come out to interact with the EKODISCO having inundated with a series  of complaints about; no electricity supply,excessive billings,outright disconnection and all of that and we need to be more sympathetic or empathetic rather to the plight of the people in this pandemic situation because people cannot go out to work,economic power is low and of course staying at home too should be as comfortable as possible and without electricity that will be a mirage.

That's why we are out here to interact with the Managing Director of EKODISCO and we have had a very useful discussion with him.

"He had been able to let us know what efforts they have been doing and I can say by and large they have been very altruistic and public spirited in their mode of operation.  I just need to appeal to our people to understand them because they too have a lot of limitations.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral resources Mr Olalere Odusote who was present at the two parleys enjoins Lagosians to comply with the stay at home order and remain safe, assuring that all their issues with power supply are being handled seriously by the state government.

"The people should be rest assured that the state government would continue to work with the electricity distribution companies,to ensure that their power supply is not adversely affected by any actions that the government is taking during the pandemic,especially due to restriction of movement.

"Electricity companies are committed to continue in carrying out their services as well as they have been carrying it before the pandemic .

"The Lagos state government will continue to support the distribution companies,Lagosians are enjoined to stay at home, if you don't have any essential business outside of your home,stay at home because the more you stay the less likely it is that you could contract or be infected with any COVID.

"Lagosians are urged not to worry about electricity supply because that is being taken care of as well as it was before the COVID and perhaps even better." Said Odusote .

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer EKODISCO Mr.Adeoye Fadeyibi, gave a clear cut view of how things are in the sector urging people to know that they are also with them in the situation at hand.

"I think estimated billing itself is something that is pressure on the system as a whole,so I think one of the things that we have done significantly which you can see is the ramp up metering. "The MAP initiative has been a good thing and try and just increase the number of meters that we install into the system to close the gap.

" Lagosians like to have the right information so when you look at it and look at our customer base it is probably more than 80 percent that has been metered already, so when you look at the remainder that we have is to continue to try and get this metering in place and also to get the distribution transformers metering done.

The Chairman Ikeja Electric Mr Kola Adesina,appreciated the fact that the lawmakers think of the vulnerables and poor masses in the society.

"Seeking solution for life during and after COVID is quite commendable, as an organisation we are quite aligned with the Honourable members and we would do everything humanly conceivable to ensure that not only we have light but we have light in a steady manner.

"The charge in energy will be made available but more importantly we would want our people to conserve energy, when you are not using any appliance please switch them off,that way you preserve the electricity but if you go beyond what you require and start to use electricity beyond your need then you are likely to cause system failure and the feeder will trip and you won't have electricity.

"So whenever you are not in a room or the house please  switch off appliances, that way, light can be made readily available to Majority of our people.

Customers to get refund for prepaid meters procured under MAP scheme – Ikeja Electric

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IE) has said it is designing a proposal to refund its customers for prepaid meters procured under the ongoing Meter Assets Provider (MAP) scheme.

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IE’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Tuesday.

Ofulue said that the proposal was, however, subject to the approval of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

NAN reports that a customer under the network currently pays N39, 765.86 for a single-phase meter and N72, 085.68 (VAT inclusive) for a three-phase meter.

Ofulue said the refund would either be in discounted tariffs or release of energy usage to cover the amount over a period of time upon approval by NERC.

He said:

“People are not aware that we intend to make this repayment. There are a lot of things that we are putting into considerations.

“The current tariff we have now is actually not cost-reflective but once we agree on a semi-cost reflective tariff, then we are going to discount the tariff for our customers so that they can enjoy the benefit of the scheme.”

Ofulue reiterated that IE currently had enough meters to meet its customers’ demand after the shortage that occurred between August and September 2019.

“During that period, there was an increase of about 35 percent in import duty and our meters were stuck at the port but that had been addressed.

“The scheme had to look for extra funds to clear the meters and so we have enough meters right now,” he said.

According to him, the only challenge faced by the scheme is the survey of the homes of those applying for prepaid meters and that has to be done as quickly as possible.

Ofulue said:

“This industry is a specialized field and you have to get the right equipment and people with the required skills to carry out the services.

“Once a customer is surveyed and advised to make payment, once the payment is made and it is confirmed, the customer will be metered within 10 working days.”

He said that the other problem faced in the installation of prepaid meters was that some customers do not indicate their references in their application form, which delayed the payment confirmation.

Ofulue said their failure to quote their account number or their application reference number would cause a snag in the system until it was resolved by the officials.

“We have always advised that whenever a customer makes payment, he should go back to our platform and upload their payment evidence @financemap/ikeja.com.

“When we have that information, we immediately use that evidence to reconcile your payment and your meter will be installed.

“On the average, each of our vendors – Mojec, New Hampshire and Conlog – installs about 1,500 prepaid meters weekly under the ongoing scheme,” he said.

He said that efforts were on to increase installation to about 3,000 per week.

Ofulue noted that over 60,000 customers had so far been metered under the MAP scheme, saying that IE hoped to meter all its customers by 2022.