The Director of Commercial Services at the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), Donald Kopoi has told journalists on Wednesday September 16, 2020, that reported cases of meter theft is increasing nationwide.
He said that from January to August there are 160 reported cases of meter theft across the country.
He made this statement during a press briefing held at Electricity House on Siaka Steven Street in Freetown.
Kopoi said that the issue of meter theft is affecting the management of the Company, and is having a ripple effect on the costumers. He added that EDSA incurs huge financial loss when replacing meters that had been stolen.
“The issue of stolen meter is a huge concern to the Company. Since last year we have had a lot of reported meter theft cases. We are dealing with those cases we had last year by letting the public know the ramifications of the act of stealing a meter which is in accordance with the stipulations of our Act of 2011,” Kopoi said.
He said that in January there were 7 reported meter theft cases. “February, March, April there was spike in theft cases; in May 23, June 37 and in August 57 meter theft cases which is counterproductive to our effort to ensure that every household and institution have a meter,” he said.
He revealed that the Company is working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to establishment of a court which would deal with infractions on electricity distribution in the Country to deal expeditiously with matters relating to meters and electricity theft in the country.
The Head of Communication for EDSA, Sahr Nepor said that meter theft is a burning issue to EDSA which affects revenue mobilization and distorts the developmental plans of the Company.
He reiterated that stealing meters is unacceptable and alluded to the laws binding the operations of EDSA. He added that going forward, EDSA would start penalizing those that are found wanting of any infraction.
He added that based on investigation conducted on matters related to meter theft, they have realized that those that are in habit of stealing meters intrude into the homes of victims on the pretext that they are working for EDSA.
“We want the public to be aware of the mode of operation by perpetrator in the activities of illegal abstraction of meters. The facilities of EDSA should only be operated by approved EDSA staffs with authentic Identification Cards (ID cards) or people/ institutions that are been given authority by EDSA to work on their facilities,” he said.
He cited that the 2011 Act states that “if any person that is not an approved staff of EDSA is found infringing or working on EDSA infrastructures which includes meters, transformers, transmission and distribution lines or any of our facilities, is liable to a fine not less than Le 70 million or a term of imprisonment for not less than five years.”
By George M.O. Williams
17/09/2020. ISSUE NO: 7911