Bypassing a prepaid meter or illegally connecting your electricity is a criminal offense in Nigeria; hence, it comes with grave consequences. In fact, the negative rewards are better imagined than experienced.
So, as an electricity consumer, it is best not to illegally connect your light or bypass your meter to avoid its consequences. .
If you tamper with meters, steal power, illegally connect electricity, or destroy any electricity facility belonging to an electricity distribution company, you’re liable to pay a fine of ₦500,000, three to five years of imprisonment, or both, depending on the level of your offense.
From us at Powerpek Company, we strongly recommend that under no circumstances should you even think of bypassing a prepaid meter, let alone executing it. We care for you, so don’t bypass meter because it is evil.
Read also: Prepaid meter problem in Nigeria
What is a Meter bypass?
Prepaid meter bypass refers to the unauthorized manipulation or tampering with an electricity meter to avoid accurate measurement of energy consumption. Meter bypass is an illegal activity and it is often carried out by electricity consumers in order to reduce or completely evade the payment of utility bills.
Meter bypass can come in different forms, ranging from physical tampering to software manipulation to disruption of the meter using magnets or external devices, among other illegal measures.
Penalties for Illegal Connection of Electricity or Meter Bypass in Nigeria
Meter bypass and illegal connection are crimes in Nigeria, so if you bypass a prepaid meter or connect your light illegally, it comes with grave consequences.
The consequences of illegal connections and meter bypassing are stipulated in the Electricity Act 2023 (EA).
In the new Electricity Act 2023 (EA), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has outlined different penalties for Nigerians who tamper with meters, steal power, illegally connect electricity, or destroy any electricity facility belonging to an electricity distribution company.
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This new act is designed to replace the Electricity Power Reform Act of 2005. The new law states as follows:
‘’…a person who cuts, removes, takes away, or transfers any electric line, material, or meter from a tower, pole,… without the consent of the licensee or its owner… commits an offence of stealing of electric lines and materials is liable on conviction to a fine of at least ₦500,000 or imprisonment for a term of at least three years and a maximum of up to five years or both.
‘ The new Electricity Act stresses that where a person or corporate body previously convicted of an offence under subsection (1) commits an offence under that subsection, the person or corporate body is, on conviction, liable for the second or subsequent offence to a fine of at least ₦1,000,000 of imprisonment for a term of five years.
It adds, “Any person who receives any stolen electric line or material, knowing or having reasons to believe it to be stolen property, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not more than three times the value of the stolen property received or imprisonment for a term of 14 years or both.”
On the other hand, the new Electricity Act still prescribes punishment for electricity consumers who prevent licensees, franchisees, etc. from inspecting their prepaid meters.
The law says: “Anyone who physically attacks the staff of a licensee or permit holder in the course of discharging his lawful duties under the provisions of this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine which may extend up to ₦1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term which may extend up to six months or both.”
Conclusion
From our discussion so far, we can see that bypassing a prepaid meter or illegally connecting your electricity is a big crime in Nigeria and it has lots of consequences. So, you should never bypass your meter or connect your light illegally to avoid its consequences.
