Power thieves cost state US$1m a year

CIREBON, West Java: Electricity theft in Cirebon is costing the state Rp 10.8 billion (US$1.08 million) a year, an official with state electricity company PT PLN Cirebon says.

People stole power in several ways, including tampering with electricity meters, the official, Sulistyo, said.

The company had deployed trained staff to investigate the thefts in the regency and bring the perpetrators to justice, he said. -- JP