Ethiopia Electric Utility (EEU) has reported losses of 143 million 299 thousand 114 birr over the past four months due to vandalism, power theft and accidents affecting its electricity network.

In a briefing on the first quarter of the fiscal year, the utility revealed that theft of seventeen transformers had cost the utility over 23 million birr, while stolen cables added nearly 89 million birr in losses. Vehicle collisions with infrastructure accounted for 18 million birr, and consumer power theft contributed a further 13 million birr.

Ethiopia Electric said offenders are disconnected according to meter inspection guidelines, and stolen electricity is calculated by technical staff and billed to the customer. Power theft is also treated as a criminal offence, with fines ranging from 20 thousand birr to one million birr depending on the customer category and severity.

Berhanu Oljira, executive director for marketing, sales and customer service, said residential customers face fines of up to 20 thousand birr, while commercial and industrial users can be fined as much as one million birr if theft is confirmed by inspectors.

The utility said additional penalties apply when theft leads to further infrastructure damage or repeated offences. Customers are advised to consult the company’s meter inspection guidelines, which outline administrative sanctions for electricity theft and related violations.