“Due to frauds in the electricity sector which creates a shortfall of about CFA40 billion ($74.8 million) every year in the country’s revenues, the Ivorian power utility service (CIE) has set 400, 000 smart meters, to date”.

The statement was made by CIE’s secretary general, Emmanuel Kouadio.

 He also announced that this operation to modernize the national grid’s meter park started in 2014 and it will continue till 2020. It complements the electrical code adopted in 2014 whose objectives include limiting the breaches committed within the sector.

The code provides that penalties of up to 5 years' imprisonment would be imposed on individuals found guilty of this type of offense.

According to data from CIE, 25% of electricity subscribers in Abidjan (which concentrates 20% of the national energy user population) commit a power fraud.

Gwladys Johnson Akinocho