City investigates electricity theft

ILLEGAL electrical connections reported to eThekwini Municipality are investigated and action is taken against perpetrators. That’s the assurance given by Natah Nkwanyana of the city’s Electricity Department after a South Beach resident alerted the department to a business in South Beach Shopping Centre who she claimed was illegally connected to the power grid.

The woman said the business had no electricity meter. “I have called the council and call centre and have many reference numbers but to date have just been given the run around. I was even told by the supervisor of the call centre that the case was closed as the meter reader had been to the business and taken a reading. How was this possible when there was no meter at the business premises?” she said, adding that the owner of the business had not paid for electricity for eight years.

The woman said she had approached Mike Larson of RMS Property who are the managing agents of the South Beach Shopping Centre who had in turn approached the landlord, municipality and owner of the business. He said he had also contacted the customer care division of the municipality.

“It would appear that it is only myself and the resident who are concerned at what would appear to be blatant abuse and theft of electricity supply which the council seems to not be interested in investigating,” he said.

However, Nkwanyana, disagrees. He said his department had investigated a query of electricity theft on 24 February. A senior technician from the Revenue Protection Division looked into the matter and a site visit was conducted. It was discovered that the business was using electricity without an electricity meter to measure consumption.

“On 24 and 25 February an illegal connection and the consumer cables were removed respectively in order to prevent the consumer from reconnecting. On 28 February we received another report alleging that the offices were using electricity illegally once again. This report was attended to and it was found that the consumer cables were still cut and there was no sign of an illegal connection.

He said an email was received from the Managing Agent Company of the property on 25 March. “A department senior technician responded by phoning the director advising him of all the findings at this property,” said Nathi.

He said on 26 March an inspection was sent out to determine if the supply at the property was still off. “It was confirmed that the consumer was still off and there were no signs of tampering on the meter frame.We are in the process of raising backdated charges against this property for un-metered consumption of electricity as per our Electricity Supply Bylaws. We will continue to conduct inspections on this property and if it is found that the consumer has reconnected illegally again a criminal case will be opened against this consumer and they will be prosecuted accordingly. eThekwini Electricity Department strives to minimize the theft of electricity to provide a better service for all. With the help of concerned citizens we can reduce the theft of electricity,” he said, adding, “eThekwini Electricity investigates every report of illegal usage and does take action against the perpetrators,” he said.