EVIDENCE: This photo shows the three black cables used to bypass the meter.
KUCHING: Meter tampering is still rampant in the state, evidenced after a two-week statewide power theft operation by Syarikat Sesco Berhad found out that 12 per cent of the 4,576 meters inspected were already being tampered with.
Sesco in a statement received here Friday revealed that it recently carried out the operation simultaneously in Kuching, Sri Aman, Sibu, Sarikei, Miri, Bintulu and Limbang targetting residential, commercial and industrial premises.
During the operation in Kuching, the meter of a famous bridal shop in Jalan Simpang Tiga was found tampered via illegal direct tapping. The direct tapping was connected at the incoming of the meter direct into the premises distribution board to bypass the meter.
“This illegal direct cable bypass the meter hence caused the meter to stop registering the actual electricity consumption. The bridal shop is fully air conditioned throughout the day. However, the billing consumption is only below RM200 per month, which does not tally with the energy consumption usage of such a business.
“Tampering by means of direct tapping poses a hazardous risk to life and property. It can cause fire and electrocution to occupants. The meter was replaced with all the evidence seized and police report has been lodged for further investigation,” said a spokesperson in the statement.
In Bintulu, the Sesco inspection team found a famous supermarket in town stealing electricity. This supermarket has a tampering history in the past and it was in Sesco’s close monitoring list.
Sesco also caught a sawmill stealing electricity at Bintulu-Tatau road. In Miri, the Sesco team found many electricity theft cases in Kuala Baram, of which most were done by way of direct tapping.
In Sibu, the Sesco team noticed suspicious cars following the technical team during the operation. It is suspected that these suspicious cars belong to the service providers who offer the tampering service of electricity meters. “The car plate number has been recorded and passed to police for further investigation,” said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson also stated that Sesco has already planned a series of meter inspection programmes next year. “Sesco will continue to emphasize more on the locked gate houses, high impact customers and customers with repeated tampering history,” the spokesperson stated.
“Sesco will also do more meter inspection in the evening and in the weekends so that customers can witness the meter inspection.”