Ikeja Electric Plc (IE), Nigeria’s leading electricity distribution company, has reiterated its commitment to combating energy theft, warning that offenders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The company emphasized that the era of merely imposing loss of revenue (LOR) penalties is over and that it will now enforce the full weight of the law against offenders.
Speaking at the company’s July Stakeholders Forum, Mr. Kingsley Okotie, Head of Corporate Communication, lamented the increase in energy theft, particularly over the last three months. He noted that the company cannot guarantee meeting customer expectations if this trend continues.
Okotie emphasized that energy theft is a criminal offense under the Electricity Act, attracting a sentence of between 6 months to 3 years imprisonment. He urged customers to take advantage of the company’s whistleblowing platform to report energy theft, which can be done anonymously through various channels, including toll-free hotlines, web portal, email, and mobile app.
The company is incentivizing whistleblowing by rewarding those who report verified incidents of energy theft. Ikeja Electric is committed to working with its customers and stakeholders to combat energy theft and ensure the stability of the electricity sector.
