Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) has expressed significant concern over rampant power theft within Plateau State. During a quarterly customer consultative session in Jos, the company’s Chief Operating Officer for the state, Engr. Hamisu Wakili Jigawa, revealed that roughly 45 percent of the electricity supplied to the region is lost to illegal connections and tampering.
Jigawa warned that such massive losses jeopardize the long-term viability of power distribution in the area. He noted that the company is struggling to maintain the 20 to 24 hours of daily supply currently provided to many residents if energy cannot be accounted for and paid for. To combat this, JED has launched the PowerWatch initiative, a whistleblower program offering rewards to citizens who report energy theft, meter bypass, or vandalism. Furthermore, the company is working with law enforcement to increase the prosecution of offenders.
Despite these difficulties, Jigawa highlighted that Plateau remains a high-performing territory, with 70 percent of customers in Jos receiving over 20 hours of power daily. JED intends to upgrade additional feeders to Band A status to further extend high-quality service.
Meanwhile, JED’s Chief Commercial Officer, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim, announced that 109,000 free meters will be distributed across the company’s four franchise states—Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, and Gombe—through the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP). Ibrahim emphasized that these meters are provided at no cost, cautioning customers to report any individuals soliciting payments for them. He also clarified that outstanding debts from previous post-paid accounts are carried over to new prepaid meters, though the company now offers flexible, structured repayment plans to help customers manage these arrears.