IBEDC records 1,459 cases of energy theft in two months

From: Joseph Okwuofu, Ibadan.

No fewer than I,459 cases of electricity theft have identified and recorded between the months of January and February 2024 by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc.

This is as the company said, in collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences (SIPTEO), it has began investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in energy theft.

Noting that, it is intensifying campaign against energy theft within its network area, IBEDC said the cases under investigation include various offenses such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.

The Chief Key Accounts Officer of the company, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, in a statement said the escalating figures prompted the strategic partnership with the Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences, a federal government agency dedicated to expediting the investigation and prosecution of offenders within IBEDC’s franchise.

He emphasized that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognized as a criminal offense, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment.

He noted that, in Osun region, two individuals have been apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections, adding that, their cases have been formally charged to court for prosecution.

Tinuoye said “We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences 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.”

He urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasizing 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.