Electric meter tampering is a criminal offence; hence, it comes with lots of penalties and sometimes grave consequences, depending on the degree of the tampering. In fact, the penalties that come with meter tampering are better imagined than experienced.
There are many consequences that those who tamper with electric meters face, ranging from financial fines and immediate disconnection from power supply to prosecution in law court and blacklisting by your DISCO. Some of these consequences are even more severe than they appear on paper. In fact, it is a criminal offence; hence, it is treated as such.
Meter tampering is not only bypassing the meter, as many people presume it to be; it is more than that, because there are many other illegal acts that are also considered meter tampering. Nevertheless, we are going to take a closer look at them in the subsequent sections. Keep scrolling.
What Is Electric Meter Tampering?
After interacting with some of our readers, I found out that many electricity consumers don’t know what electric meter tampering is all about; hence, they don’t even know when they commit a meter tampering offence.
Meter tampering refers to unauthorised usage of an electric meter that you use in measuring your energy consumption. Electric meter tampering can come in different forms, including
- Meter bypass to avoid charges
- Using magnets or external devices to slow down electric meter energy consumption
- Breaking the meter seals
- Interfering with the internal components of the meter
- Connecting power directly to the house without passing through the meter
Once you do any of these things mentioned above, it means that you have tampered with your electric meter; hence, you will be charged a penalty for that.
Penalty for Tampering with Electric Meter
There are different penalties for tampering with electric meters, and the penalties vary depending on the level of tampering. Nevertheless, no matter the kind of electric meter tampering offence you commit, it comes with grave consequences. Some of the penalties for tampering with an electric meter are detailed below:
1. Financial Fines
One of the penalties for tampering with an electric meter is a fine. If you’re caught tampering with your meter, you may be required to pay a fine ranging from ₦100,000 to ₦300,000, depending on the gravity of the offence and the estimated energy theft involved. However, in some countries the fines may be up to $500 or even more.
2. Immediate Disconnection from Power Supply
If you are tampering with your electric meter, your electricity power supply will be disconnected immediately. The worst part of it is that reconnection will not be done until you pay the necessary fine. After paying the fine, your meter will then be either replaced or reset by authorised personnel.
3. Prosecution in Law Court
Electric meter tampering is a criminal offence; hence, you may be arrested, charged in court, and even imprisoned for up to 6 months or more if found guilty of meter tampering.
4. Back Billing
Once caught, you will be required to pay for the estimated power consumed during the tampering period. This can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of naira. In addition to paying the bills, you may be charged an extra fine for your offence.
5. Blacklisting by your DISCO
Finally, if you are found tampering with your electric meter, your address may be flagged by your distribution company (DisCo) for future monitoring, which will cause you serious challenges whenever you want to obtain new meter installations or account services.
What is the penalty for meter tampering in Nigeria?
The penalty for meter tampering is not fixed; the consequences vary depending on the degree of the tampering. Nevertheless, the penalties can range from financial fines to immediate disconnection from Power Supply, Prosecution in Law Court, and blacklisting by your DISCO