Municipality to combat electricity theft
COLLABORATION is a critical step in the efforts by municipalities to recover and secure revenue that is lost to electricity theft.
This is the view of Maboe Maphaka, Eskom’s senior manager of Energy Trading and Sales Forecasting. Electricity theft, and the resultant loss of revenue, hampers service delivery and impacts on economic development, service delivery and a better life for all.
Maphaka was speaking ahead of the Institute of Municipal Finance Officers (IMFO) conference, the event, held annually, promotes the exchange of information and finding solutions in the field of municipal finance and municipal internal audit practices.
Through Operation Khanyisa, a campaign aimed at promoting legal, safe and efficient power use, Eskom and municipalities under the leadership of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) are exploring joint initiatives and operations, and share information on the management of energy losses, dealing with electricity theft and sustainable revenue recovery.
Maphaka said in South Africa more than R5.4-billion is lost annually by Eskom and municipalities due to electricity theft.
“Many still believe that electricity theft is only a problem in South Africa or in developing countries, but the reality is that billions are lost each year globally due to electricity theft.
In the US, approximately R61-billion is lost annually due to electricity theft, and in the United Kingdom about R4,7-billion is lost each year from gas and electricity theft, resulting in electricity becoming the third most stolen commodity following credit card information and vehicles.”
According to Maphaka, Eskom is working closely with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African Police Service (SAPS), using a specially developed Guide to the Prosecution of Electricity Theft in South Africa – to strengthen enforcement in electricity theft cases. New legal precedents are being set with the successful use of legislation, on serious charges such as fraud and racketeering to prosecute electricity theft.
Maphaka also touched on the role of the public in the fight against electricity theft, attributing some of Operation Khanyisa’s success to the more than 8000 anonymous tip-offs sent to Crime Line’s 32211 SMS number.
