Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy has waged war on both electricity abstraction and theft following the steady increase in statistics of stolen metres nationwide.
Speaking in a press briefing held yesterday at Electricity House, Siaka Steven in Freetown, the Head of Communication, EDSA, Sahr Nepor underscored the pressing issue of electricity abstraction which has gripped the attention of the Ministry and EDSA Management.
According to him, unscrupulous people purporting to be EDSA staff have engaged in removing metres of its customers illegally thereby creating financial loss to the institution for replacement of metres. He reiterated on the request of the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay for the establishment of special electricity court to ensure speedy trial of any individual found wanting for violating the Electricity Act of 2011.
Citing the Electricity Act of 2011, Sahr Nepor stressed that “A person who dishonestly abstract electricity; consumes electricity; uses electricity and alters the index of any metre or other instrument with any Authority installation or licensed installation for recording the output or consumption of electricity commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than fifty million Leones (Le50,000,000) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both the fine and imprisonment. In addition to the penalty imposed under subsection (1), a person who contravenes subsection (1) is liable to pay a full compensation for the damage done”.
EDSA Director of Commercial Services, Donald Kopoi underscored the ripple effect of electricity abstraction to the customers and the institution when metres have been stolen. Giving the breakdown of statistics of stolen metres he said that there have slowly increased on a monthly basis totaling to one hundred sixty metres (160) stolen from January to August this year nationwide.
As this pressing issue is affecting EDSA profitability he said that management and the ministry have put mechanism in place to tackle electricity abstraction and illegal connections. He admonished customers not to condone people engaged in stealing metres and illegal electricity connections as EDSA would start to enforce the law effectively and efficiently to any defaulters.
He further spoke about the financial implications his institution incurred for replacement of metres to customers who suffer stolen metres by people purporting as EDSA staff. He encouraged customers to report any issue of stolen meter to the EDSA Commercial Service Department, call the toll number 672 both on Orange and Africell, and engage the public relations unit of the institution or the whatsapp group number 077-672-672. He said that after verification of metre card or any documentation of acquiring the metre being stolen, EDSA will then start the process of replacement to the customer, tracing as well as complete disconnection of such metre.
