Enemalta to clamp down on electricity theft

Enemalta Corporation will be increasing inspections to curb electricity theft from April 1.

Investments Minister Austin Gatt said in Parliament yesterday that those who tamper with electricity metres have up till the end of March to regularise their position.

He said Enemalta had already stepped up surprise inspections to find a large number of "irregular" metres, adding that controls would become tighter in the coming months.

Adverts encouraging people to anonymously report electricity theft are currently appearing in the print media.

The minister was replying to a question by opposition spokesman Joe Mizzi, who asked whether the legal notice which makes electricity theft a public offence - and therefore subject to court action - offers redress to those who are proved innocent.

Dr Gatt said in all suspected cases of electricity theft, Enemalta reports the individuals to the police who start an investigation and charge the suspect in court, irrespective of the amount stolen. If the person admits to the public offence and decides to pay, the charges are dropped and no investigation is carried out.

Those who choose to pay still have to appear in court, in which case Enemalta says that everything has been paid. The court warns the person not to repeat the offence and the offence would be recorded on the person's criminal record.