People mess with electric meters and hook up power illegally all over informal neighborhoods, causing big headaches for Northern Electricity Distributor. The company spokesman, Simon Lukas, talked about this problem after they finished checking customer meters throughout their service area. Their teams discovered 520 tampered boxes among more than 140,000 meters they inspected, with four out of every five illegal hookups happening in makeshift housing areas.
Lukas explained that many residents claim they break the law because official power takes forever to reach their neighborhoods. These folks believe regular electricity costs way more than they can afford, leaving them feeling like stealing power offers their only path to modern living. Many don't understand just how risky these bootleg connections really are—both for their safety and everyone else's.
These illegal wires drive up costs for honest customers, create serious fire hazards, damage equipment across entire neighborhoods, and put repair crews at risk when they work nearby. Nored catches these thieves through regular neighborhood patrols, tracking unusual patterns in power usage, teaming up with police, and gathering tips during community meetings throughout their coverage area.
The power company plans to step up its education efforts, specifically targeting informal settlements. They want everyone to understand exactly what happens when people steal electricity - the dangers, legal consequences, and harm to their communities. Lukas hopes better awareness will help decrease these dangerous illegal hookups before someone gets seriously hurt or worse.
Lukas explained that many residents claim they break the law because official power takes forever to reach their neighborhoods. These folks believe regular electricity costs way more than they can afford, leaving them feeling like stealing power offers their only path to modern living. Many don't understand just how risky these bootleg connections really are—both for their safety and everyone else's.
These illegal wires drive up costs for honest customers, create serious fire hazards, damage equipment across entire neighborhoods, and put repair crews at risk when they work nearby. Nored catches these thieves through regular neighborhood patrols, tracking unusual patterns in power usage, teaming up with police, and gathering tips during community meetings throughout their coverage area.
The power company plans to step up its education efforts, specifically targeting informal settlements. They want everyone to understand exactly what happens when people steal electricity - the dangers, legal consequences, and harm to their communities. Lukas hopes better awareness will help decrease these dangerous illegal hookups before someone gets seriously hurt or worse.
