SESB chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (with dark blue cap) surveying Kampung Hidayat in Tawau to see the suitability of implementing the Independent Power Distributor (IPD) concept there.
KOTA KINABALU: Utility company Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) has taken proactive action against power theft at a village in Tawau by lodging a police report on Friday (Feb 23).
SESN chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said they reported the incident after the discovery the day before when inspecting Kampung Hidayat, Batu 4 Jalan Apas, Tawau, to see the suitability of implementing the Independent Power Distributor (IPD) concept there.
“Initially, the survey conducted with local leaders including the village chief was to see the suitability of the IPD concept there, but we found illegal connections openly practiced by nearly every house there.
“Illegal connections have caused huge losses to SESB – we lost RM183,156 monthly due to power theft in this village alone – as well as posing a risk to safety.
“The police report is meant to open up a probe by the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) and the police.
“I urge members of the public to report such criminal activities as power theft is one of the main factors for electricity supply interruptions in Sabah,” he said in the statement.
Madius added this is his eighth month holding the chairman's position, and since then he had conducted engagement with consumers and took into consideration different recommendations during dialogue sessions.
