The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has issued a stern warning to its customers, stressing that electricity theft is illegal and subject to strict legal penalties.
Energy theft typically involves unauthorized connections, meter bypassing, or illegal tapping into power lines, resulting in significant revenue losses for the company.
The company emphasized, “This isn’t the kind of challenge you want to try!” underlining the dangers and consequences of tampering with power infrastructure.
The warning coincides with ongoing initiatives to tackle widespread energy theft across AEDC’s operational areas, which include Abuja, Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa states.
In Niger State, AEDC reports that theft and non-payment have led to a monthly revenue shortfall of N1.6 billion, collecting only N850 million from an anticipated N2.5 billion.
The company noted that such activities not only strain finances but also lead to higher tariffs for paying customers and disrupt service reliability nationwide.
The economic consequences extend to families and businesses, who face inflated bills to compensate for the losses, while operational challenges contribute to frequent outages.
The safety risks are also severe, as meter tampering can trigger fires, electrocutions, and explosions, putting entire communities at risk.
