Illegal electricity connections and meter tampering remain a significant concern for the Northern Electricity Distributor (Nored), particularly in informal settlements according to spokesperson Simon Lukas.
In an interview about the recently concluded token identifier project, Lukas revealed that 520 out of over 140 000 electricity meter boxes were found to be bypassed or illegally connected, with 80 percent of these cases occurring in informal areas.
“Part of the rationale put forward by people engaging in these highly risky and criminal activities is the slow roll-out of electricity, particularly in informal settlements,” he said.
He added that those who commit such acts are also of the view that electricity is very expensive, and illegal connections are the only way they can obtain this service.
Lukas emphasised the lack of awareness regarding the dangers and costs associated with illegal connections, including increased operational expenses, safety risks for those involved, infrastructure damage and hazards for Nored staff who work on the installation of electricity.
He explained that illegal connections are detected through a combination of methods including routine inspections by field technicians, monitoring of power consumption patterns through meter readings, collaboration with law enforcement, public awareness and community meetings.
However, he said Nored intends to intensify community awareness campaigns, particularly in informal areas, to educate residents on the consequences of these criminal activities.
