Electricity theft mitigation in the Nigerian power sector

Abstract

Electricity theft is a pervasive problem all over the world. With electricity generation in Nigeria falling short of the required generation capacity, it is disturbing that the little power generated is also being stolen by some unscrupulous consumers. Electricity distribution companies in Nigeria (DisCos) lose about ₦30 billion every month owing to electricity theft. This amount is whopping, and if significantly reduced and spent on the power infrastructure and management, it would improve the power situation in the country. This paper proffers the deployment of Smart Grid (SG) with its inherent smart metering as a solution to the electricity theft situation in Nigeria, as a result of its improved flexibility, security and reliability. Smart Grid also supports energy diversification, by allowing the integration of various renewable energy sources into the conventional power grid. This will tend to help in improving the epileptic power situation in the country.