MORE than 200,000 cases of electricity theft, valued at over RM400mil, have been reported in the last eight years, says the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry.
The ministry said Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) had received a total of 218,852 claims for losses due to electricity theft from 2017 to 2024, estimated at around RM440mil.
At present, 85,161 of the cases remain active, while another 1,723 cases are under negotiation for settlement.
About 131,968 cases have been successfully resolved and closed.
“Electricity theft not only causes financial losses to the country but also affects the stability of the electricity supply enjoyed by other users.
“Therefore, the ministry is committed in its efforts to combat this activity through stricter enforcement and firm action against offenders,” it said in a written reply to Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) yesterday.
The ministry added that it had implemented five initiatives to tackle electricity theft.
This includes integrated raids that involve other enforcement agencies such as the police; granting police special investigation powers; conducting public awareness campaigns; and providing an online platform for public reports and complaints.
The ministry also said it had begun using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and heat sensors to detect illegal electricity-guzzling cryptocurrency mining dens.
