We’re losing N238bn monthly to theft – PHEDC

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company has said it loses over seven million kilowatt-hour, an equivalent of over N238bn, to direct electricity theft a month.

The Head, Revenue Protection Department, PHED, Mr. Nsika Udi, said on Friday during Consumers’ Forum that the direct tapping of energy, besides meter bypass, illegal connection, and fraud in billing, accounted for 80 per cent of power theft.

He added that the energy theft was not restricted to direct stealing of energy by the consumers that had not been officially connected to the grid or those that had diverted load from the visibility of the energy meter alone, but also extended to individuals that had been billed but deliberately refused to pay or cheat at payment.