Electricity theft causes state losses

BOGOR (JP): Forty-nine companies and 1,750 houses have been caught stealing electricity from state-owned electricity company PT PLN over the last nine months, causing state losses of Rp 4.9 billion.

An officer in charge of electricity distribution, Nyangid, said on Monday that the customers stole electricity by tampering with their electricity meters.

"The 'shameless' customers range from poor people to entrepreneurs, including industrial firms," Nyangid said, adding that the three industrial districts of Gunung Putri, Cibinong and Cileungsi, were prone to electricity theft.

PLN will ask the companies and houses to pay compensation over the next three months or have their electricity cut off, he said.

"So far, we have cut the electricity supply to one of the companies," Nyangid said.

He said PLN would also fire any of its officials caught tampering with meters and would continue inspections of the premises of its 500,000 customers to prevent electricity theft. (21/dja)