The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has revealed that it is ready to collaborate with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences (SIPTEO) to combat energy theft within its network area.
It further revealed that the company is pursuing legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in energy theft.
This was revealed in a statement signed by Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, the Chief Key Accounts officer of the company recently in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.
He said, “IBEDC has identified and recorded over 1,459 cases of energy theft between January and February 2024. These cases 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 escalating figures have prompted a 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”.
Mr. Tinuoye, however, emphasized that energy theft has been classified as a criminal offense with severe penalties including imprisonment under the Electricity Act.
He further stated that two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections in Osun state while revealing that the suspects have been charged to court for prosecution.
“We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with SIPTEO 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,” Mr. Tinuoye stated.
The management of IBEDC further urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasizing that the consequences can be severe for defaulters.
It further added that there would be no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO task force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.
Packaged by Dare Raji
