TAWAU: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) said it suffered a RM5 million loss from January to October this year due to theft of electricity through tampering of the meters by commercial and domestic users in Sabah and Labuan.
Its Chief Transformation Officer Ahmad Nassaruddin Kamaruzaman (pic right) said the loss was linked to 1,191 cases of domestic users, 148 cases of commercial users and one case of industrial user.
“The Energy Commission is also in the process of prosecuting 29 users for tampering with the SESB meter,” he told reporters following an SESB Electricity Theft operation, here, Wednesday.
He said all the offenders were investigated in accordance with Sections 37 and 38 of the Electricity Supply Act 1990.
During the operation, SESB found that six commercial users in Jalan Tanjung Batu had tampered with the meter for almost a year, causing SESB to lose RM120,000, he said.
“Their modus operandi was to install illegal connections before or behind the meter to keep their electricity charges low.
“This is prohibited. We will get the offenders to compensate for their action, failing which they will be taken to court,” he said.
Ahmad Nassaruddin said SESB had approved the policy of giving remuneration to whistleblowers on meter-tampering cases and illegal electricity connections.
According to him, the whistleblower would receive a remuneration of at least one to two per cent of the total revenue loss claim.
“Informers can contact the SESB Strike Force Department to report on meter-tampering cases and illegal electricity connections or call 088-282782, 088-282779 or 088-282778,” he said.
He said SESB also enforces the use of Authority Cards for SESB employees to ensure that only authorised SESB employees can access the installation of SESB meters at user premises.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.