Sesco: 2 sawmills in Tanjung Manis found with tampered meters

0

KUCHING: Two sawmills in Tanjung Manis were caught tampering with their wiring systems during an operation by Syarikat Sesco Bhd (Sesco) and the Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) of the Public Utilities Ministry recently.

The operation, comprising 15 technicians and police personnel, was witnessed by the customer’s representative on site.

The inspectors found both meters at the two sawmills had been tampered with by means of shunting – using a wire to bypass the power consumption-measuring circuit.

“The tampering wire is very well hidden. It is suspected that the tampering was done by the same power theft service provider as the methods were the same,” a Sesco spokesperson said in a press statement, adding that both sawmills had been caught with meter tampering many times before.

“Due to such bad track record, these customers have been blacklisted and put under Sesco’s close monitoring list. In previous tampering cases, their meters had been replaced with smart meters that had features allowing for remote detection of any irregularities.

“Further analysis also revealed that these two sawmills’ monthly consumption was about RM40,000 previously, before it drastically dropped to RM 5,000,” said the spokesperson, pointing out that the case would be taken up by EIU for prosecution in court.

The factories’ tampered meters and other tampering evidences were seized.

“Sesco will continue to work closely with EIU and other government enforcement agencies to carry out meter inspection operations statewide.

“We would like to remind the public not to trust anyone introducing any device or service which they claim can help to reduce electricity. Once the meters have been found to be tampered with, the registered customers will be the ones responsible for the arrears bill and legal actions.

“Report to Sesco if you see have any information on power theft by calling hotline number 082-443535. All information will be kept strictly confidential,” the spokesperson said.

Stealing electricity is a crime under the Electricity Ordinance Section 33(5), which carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of RM100,000, or both if convicted.