Electricity customers in Nigeria will now pay over N200,000 for tempering with their meters and over N300,000 in subsequent offences as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) amends the order on Unauthorised Access, Meter Tampering and By-Pass.

The order with No: NERC/REG/41/2017, which took effect from 22 January 2025 punished consumers with single phase non maximum demand meters N100,000 for first time offence and N150,000 for subsequent offences.

For residential customers with non maximum demand meter of three phase, tempering with meter or by-pass stand at N200,000 and N300,000 for subsequent offences as administrative charge.

Maximum demand meter are worst hit with 450 per cent of their last recorded consumption and 600 per cent of their last recorded bill if the offence is repeated.

The payment also includes revenue loss recovery, allowing distribution companies to charge end-users the loss of revenue through back-billing at the prevailing tariff in addition to a reconnection cost. (Guardian)