Perplexed by the continuous by-pass of its meters and massive illegal connections, the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), has promised handsome rewards to whistle blowers who report such electricity thieves.
“We have instituted a whistle blowers policy aimed at rewarding those that report people that steal electricity either by by-passing our meters or engaging in illegal connection,’’ JEDC managing director Gidado Modibbo said on Wednesday in Jos.
He told journalists that it was in the interest of genuine customers to be alert and report such thieves.
“When electricity is stolen, the entire value chain suffers; every aspect is affected. In the end, innocent customers pay for the quantity stolen. So, it is in the customers’ interest not to shield such thieves.’’
He said that the aggressive pursuit of electricity meters would be useless if consumers by-passed them, noting that such attitude would render them valueless.
Modibbo announced that the fines for meter by-pass had been reviewed from N50,000 to N450,000, to discourage those engaged in that.
The official also condemned illegal connections and blamed the trend for the inability to properly distribute electricity transmitted to the company.
He advised electricity customers to increase their vigilance to check the activities of vandals.
“The vandals have become more destructive in the past few months. The activities of a few are disrupting services to many. We must work together to stop them from throwing us into perpetual darkness,’’ he said.
Modibbo urged Nigerians to conserve energy by shutting appliances when not in use.
