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The short answer
KEDCO treats meter bypass as theft of electricity: its management has said offenders will be taken to court rather than let off through intermediaries, and you can expect disconnection and a bill for the energy KEDCO says was not paid for before reconnection. KEDCO has not published a fixed penalty amount that we could find, so if you are accused, ask for the assessment in writing, showing the kWh, period and tariff used.
What counts as bypass
Meter bypass means wiring part or all of a building's supply around the meter so that energy is used without being recorded. It includes a jumper cable across the meter, a second line from the pole that never passes through the meter, and tampering inside the meter. To a DisCo it is the same as an illegal connection, because energy leaves the network without payment.
How KEDCO has said it treats it
KEDCO has been public about its stance. In November 2021 its then managing director, Dr Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, described meter bypass and illegal connections as among the biggest economic threats to the company, and the company said anyone caught would be made to defend themselves in court, adding that offenders should no longer come to beg through third parties. In December 2021 KEDCO asked customers to report illegal connections, meter bypass, vandalism and other sabotage.
What those statements did not include was a published penalty table, and we could not load KEDCO's website to check for one in October 2026. So any specific naira figure you hear for "the KEDCO bypass fine" should be treated as unconfirmed until KEDCO puts it in writing for your case.
What usually happens, step by step
The general pattern across Nigerian DisCos, which KEDCO's statements are consistent with, is:
- Inspection. A KEDCO team finds the bypass and records it. Ask for names, staff ID and a copy or photo of any report.
- Disconnection. Supply to the premises is cut.
- Assessment. KEDCO calculates the energy it believes was used but not paid for, over a period it chooses, at your tariff.
- Payment or dispute. You pay the assessed sum, agree a plan in writing, or dispute it.
- Regularisation and reconnection. The wiring is corrected and the meter checked, then supply is restored.
- Possible prosecution. KEDCO has said offenders will face court, separate from the bill.
Checking an assessment
An assessment is only as fair as its three inputs: the load assumed, the number of days and the tariff. Ask for each in writing.
Worked example
Example only, with an illustrative tariff of ₦60/kWh. KEDCO assesses 10 kWh a day for 60 days:
| Input | Figure |
|---|---|
| Daily energy assumed | 10 kWh |
| Period | 60 days |
| Energy assessed | 10 × 60 = 600 kWh |
| Tariff (illustrative) | ₦60/kWh |
| Energy charge | 600 × ₦60 = ₦36,000 |
If the property is a two-room flat with a fan, bulbs and a television, 10 kWh a day may be generous, and if the meter was installed only 30 days ago, a 60-day period cannot be right. Those are the points to raise. Use your band's real tariff from KEDCO tariff today for your own sum.
If you did not do it
Tenants are often blamed for wiring done before they moved in, and neighbours sometimes tap a line without the occupant knowing. If that is your situation:
- Say so in writing at the inspection and refuse to sign anything that admits fault.
- Gather evidence: tenancy start date, earlier receipts, photos of the meter area.
- If you are a tenant, inform the landlord in writing at once.
- Dispute the assessment with KEDCO, and if it is not resolved, take it to NERC's Forum Office; see how to complain about your DisCo and escalate to NERC.
If your meter is faulty, report it rather than work around it
Some bypasses start as a "temporary" fix for a dead meter. NERC's 2020 order on capping estimated bills required DisCos to replace faulty meters within two working days, and in the meantime to bill only the average of your last three months. That route is safer than any wiring change. Your rights are summarised in electricity customer rights in Nigeria.
Landlords and shared buildings
In compounds with several flats on one meter, or one tenant feeding another through an extension, a bypass in one unit can lead to the whole building being disconnected. Landlords should know where every meter is, who is on it, and keep the meter area sealed and visible. If you are a landlord and a tenant has tampered with a meter, record what you found and inform KEDCO yourself rather than waiting for an inspection to find it.
Putting the wiring right
Reconnection needs the bypass removed. Use a qualified electrician, keep their invoice and photographs of the corrected installation, and ask KEDCO to inspect and confirm in writing before you pay any reconnection-related charge. Do not let anyone reconnect the supply informally: that is a fresh offence, and KEDCO's 2021 statements made clear it no longer wants such matters settled through third parties.
This article is information, not legal advice. If you are charged in court, speak to a lawyer.
Questions people ask
How much is the fine for meter bypass in KEDCO?
KEDCO has not published a fixed amount that we could find. Expect disconnection and a back-bill for the energy assessed; ask for the kWh, period and tariff in writing.
Can KEDCO take me to court for bypassing a meter?
KEDCO has said that people caught bypassing meters will be made to defend themselves in court. That is separate from paying the back-bill.
How do I get reconnected after a bypass disconnection in Kano?
Settle or formally dispute the assessment, have the wiring corrected and the meter checked, and get written confirmation from KEDCO before supply is restored.
How can I report meter bypass to KEDCO?
KEDCO has asked customers to report illegal connections and bypass. Use the official channels on kedco.ng or a KEDCO office, not numbers passed around on social media.
Sources
- Blueprint: Meter bypass, illegal connection biggest economic threats to KEDCO (22 Nov 2021) · accessed Oct 2026
- Gazette: Report anyone that tampers with meter, KEDCO appeals to customers (7 Dec 2021) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq: Recent order on the capping of estimated bills in the Nigerian electricity supply industry (25 Apr 2020) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.