Kogi Electricity Distribution Ltd (KEDL) says it lost N10.8 billion in nine months to energy theft and underpayment of bills by its customers in the state.

KEDL acting managing director, Olaseni Agunpopo, made the disclosure at a town hall meeting on the establishment of a Special Court for Electricity Theft and Related Offences, held in Lokoja.

Mr Agunpopo said that KEDL gets an energy supply of N1.8 billion monthly but could only collect N600 million monthly on average, leaving a shortfall of N1.2 billion monthly.

He said, aside from the loss of N3.6 billion to electricity collection, owing to consumers’ underpayment of bills, the N7.2 billion loss was a result of meter bypassing, tampering and illegal connections by consumers in the state.

Mr Agunpopo said that such a huge loss would not be tolerated, considering its negative impact on investors, consumers and the economic growth of Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.

“This explains why the Kogi government, through the Kogi Electricity Regulation Commission, established a special court to address energy theft and related offences in the state.

“Therefore, this town hall meeting marks a critical step in our collective effort to address one of the most persistent challenges confronting the electricity sector — energy theft.

“This menace has continued to undermine the progress we strive to achieve in ensuring a reliable and sustainable electricity supply,” he said.

According to him, it has led to huge revenue losses, destruction of vital infrastructure, risks to human life, and placed an unfair burden on our honest and law-abiding customers.

The managing director urged residents to cooperate with KEDL to ensure a steady supply of electricity and deal with the menace of theft and other related offences hampering growth and development in the state.

In his remarks, the chairman of the Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC), Ibrahim Abdwaaris, said that the establishment of the electricity theft task force and special courts by the state is a bold and progressive step toward protecting investments in an emerging state electricity market.

Mr Abdwaaris argued that electricity theft undermined not only the financial viability of distribution companies but also the stability and reliability of electricity supply to honest consumers.

“Kogi government remains resolutely committed to creating an enabling environment where investors can operate profitably while consumers receive fair, reliable, and affordable service.

“The success of this effort depends on continuous cooperation, transparency, and mutual respect among all stakeholders.

“As your regulator, the KERC will continue to provide guidance, oversight, and support to ensure that this framework achieves its purpose,” he said.

Participants from the 21 local government areas of the state were allowed to ask questions, and answers were given on grey areas requiring clarification.

(NAN)