Kota Kinabalu: The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) views seriously the widespread cases of electricity theft through meter tampering and will step up enforcement this year to detect and curb such illegal activities, including at domestic premises.
ECoS Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid said legal action would be taken against companies as well as individuals stealing power or involved in meter tampering.
He said Sabah Electricity (SE) incurred over RM18 million in losses to power thefts last year alone, and around RM3 million in losses this year to date.
Nasser said ECoS had conducted joint raids with SE on 21 industrial and commercial premises.
These raids uncovered 15 cases of meter tampering that cost Sabah Electricity over RM3 million, he said.
ECoS handles industrial and commercial premises while Sabah Electricity deals with domestic premises and other sites.
Nasser said as of February, nine cases have been prosecuted in court.
He said all those involved pleaded guilty, with one being compounded for RM50,000; while three more cases are being prosecuted and two are under investigation.
“Sabah Electricity can also recover losses from offenders based on Section 63(6) of the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024,” he said.
According to the Enactment, premises owners or commercial and industrial operators can be fined between RM20,000 and RM1 million or imprisoned for up to five years, or both, for the first conviction, he said.
“For the second and subsequent offences, offenders can be fined from RM100,000 to RM5 million, or jailed up to 10 years, or both.
“ECoS also warns any parties found to be complicit in meter tampering or illegal electrical connections that they can also be prosecuted under this Enactment,” he said.
