KEDL Records N5b losses in first half of 2025, As KERC establishes special Court for electricity theft, related offences.

KEDL Records N5b losses in first half of 2025, As KERC establishes special Court for electricity theft, related offences.

By Abu Micheal

The Kogi State Electricity Distribution Limited, says it recorded a loss of N1.3b to energy theft in the first half of 2025

This theft according to, Engr. Olaseni Agunpopo, the Acting Managing Director of Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited, was recorded in bye passing, meter tempering and illegal connections by consumers in the State, leading to a huge loss and a menace to power supply to consumers.

Similarly, the KEDL according to the Acting Managing Director of KEDL says it also lost N3.6b to electricity collection losses, owing to consumers under paying the bills given to them.

The Acting Managing Director stated that in all, KEDL has made a collection and commercial loss totalling N5b in the first half of 2025, described it as not impressive for the business to run in the State.

Worried by the loss and to protect the activities of KEDL, the Kogi State Government through the Kogi State Electricity Regulation Commission has establish a special Court towards addressing energy theft and related Offences in the State.

The above was the disclosure made at the Town Hall Meeting on the Establishment of Task Force for Energy Theft and Related Offences held at Edge drive hotel Lokoja.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited (KEDL), Engr Olaseni Agunpopo, said the Town Hall Meeting organized by Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited (KEDL), marks a critical step in the 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 reliable and sustainable electricity supply. It leads to huge revenue losses, destruction of vital infrastructure, risks to human life, and places an unfair burden on our honest and law-abiding customers”.

“The Kogi State Government, through the Kogi State Electricity Regulatory
Commission (KERC), has taken a bold and commendable step with the establishment of a Special Task Force on Energy Theft and Related Offences”.

“This initiative underscores the Commission’s unwavering commitment to sanitizing the electricity sector, promoting transparency, and safeguarding the integrity of power distribution across the State”.

“By creating this Task Force, the Commission has demonstrated proactive leadership and a deep understanding of the critical role electricity plays in economic growth and social development”.

“The Task Force will serve as a coordinated mechanism to identify, investigate, and prosecute cases of energy theft and related offences. It will also work closely with security agencies, the judiciary, and other critical stakeholders to ensure that justice is served and deterrence is achieved”.

“This decisive move not only reflects the Commission’s desire to protect the investments made by KEDL but also reinforces its commitment to ensuring that law-abiding customers are not unfairly penalized by the actions of a few who engage in theft and sabotage. Ultimately, it lays the foundation for a more efficient, reliable, and equitable electricity distribution system that will benefit all residents of Kogi State”.

The Acting Managing Director said the objectives of the initiative is to protect honest customers who dutifully pay their bills, to promote fairness, discipline, and accountability in electricity usage, and to improve service delivery by channelling saved resources into infrastructure and customer satisfaction”.

The Acting Managing Director called for collaboration of all stakeholders — government, communities, traditional leaders, security agencies, citizen who value progress and integrity”.

In a keynote address by the Chairman, Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Engr. Ibrahim S. Abdwaaris,
said the new legal framework established by the Kogi State Government to curb electricity theft and safeguard the integrity of electricity supply system could not have come at a better time.

He said the establishment of the Electricity Theft Task Force and the Special Court by the Kogi State Government represents a bold and progressive step towards protecting investments in an emerging state electricity market.

“Electricity theft undermines not only the financial viability of distribution companies but also the stability and reliability of electricity supply to honest consumers. The State Government, therefore, remains resolutely committed to creating an enabling environment where investors can operate profitably while consumers receive fair, reliable, and affordable service”.

The KERC enjoined KEDL to work collaboratively with the Task Force and the Special Court to ensure the full effectiveness of the initiative. The success of this effort depends on continuous cooperation, transparency, and mutual respect among all stakeholders. As your regulator, the Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) will continue to provide guidance, oversight, and support to ensure that this framework achieves its purpose”.

“However, while we take firm action against electricity theft, I must also use this opportunity to caution against unwholesome market practices that undermine customer trust and confidence. The Commission has observed with concern reports of mass disconnections and other actions that may unfairly penalize compliant customers. Let me be clear: a monopolistic market is naturally prone to abuse, and this is why regulation exists — to ensure fairness, accountability, and balance between the interests of investors and consumers”.

“As a regulator, KERC is firmly committed to protecting customer rights and ensuring that every consumer is treated with dignity and fairness. At the same time, we recognize the legitimate right of investors to earn a fair return on their investment. This delicate balance is at the heart of effective regulation, and it will continue to guide all our actions and decisions”.

The KERC urge all stakeholders — KEDL, customers, community leaders, and government agencies — to join hands in the collective effort to build a transparent, efficient, and sustainable electricity market in Kogi State”, maintaining that together, “we can ensure that electricity theft becomes a thing of the past, that investments are protected, and that the citizens of Kogi State enjoy improved electricity service and economic development”.

The establishment of the Special Court according to the KERC
is meant for speedy resolution, ensure quick dispensation of justice, curb electricity theft and vandalism, adding that the taskforce represent a bold step to protect electricity investment in the State and to encourage others to intervene in the electricity market of the State.