KUCHING: Owners of luxury houses too are breaking the law after two (houses) at Jalan Lutong and Pujut in Miri were found to have tampered meters during Sesco’s meter inspection recently.
The team found luxury houses at Jalan Pujut with electricity supplied to the house bypassing the meter which resulted in low billing, Sesco said through a statement recently.
Many of them received monthly consumption bill of less than RM80 a month, which is ridiculously low considering the (big) size of the house and the number of occupants.
The statement said that 28 per cent of the meters inspected were tampered with, showing a relatively high tampering rate at housing areas here compared to those in other places.
According, to a Sesco spokesperson the direct tapping was done when the occupants moved into their new houses.
“Direct tapping is dangerous because it alters the safety of the wiring system. It jeopardises the function of the protective system of the house which is designed to cut off the supply in case of internal fault.”
Sesco warned that tampered meters and its wiring system were dangerous as it could cause electrocution, loss to life and property.
The inspection teams also faced many locked gate at some houses and had to return to check these premises.
Under Section 32 (b) of the Electricity Ordinance, Sesco can apply for warrant of entry from a magistrate to enter premises for the purpose of meter inspection.
Sesco has applied a few warrant of entry after customers refused the inspection team entry.
It seeks cooperation from the public in the meter inspection exercise. The public can request for their Sesco identification pass before allowing the technicians to enter their premises.
If in doubt, the public can also call Sesco office to inquire if there is a meter inspection operation going on at their area.
They public can call 082-443535 if they know of any power theft being committed in your area.