Another 100 Armier boathouses have been disconnected from the grid as an Enemalta “crackdown” on electricity theft continues.

Times of Malta last week reported that the State energy supplier had waged war on electricity theft, targeting about 100 dwellings in the Armier and St Thomas Bay areas.

Enemalta officials, escorted by the police, descended on the contentious dwellings last Monday, removing unauthorised power supplies, some of which consisted of makeshift grids connecting several dwellings to the public electrical mains.

An Enemalta spokesman told this newspaper another 100 buildings had since been disconnected, with more raids planned in the coming days.

“Inspections will continue and each irregularity will be investigated and, where necessary, further action will be taken to safeguard Enemalta’s interests,” he said.

Where necessary, further action will be taken to safeguard the company’s interests

The crackdown follows a one-month window in which the government allowed boathouse owners to regularise their position, inviting them to apply for a temporary electricity supply. Owners had until the beginning of last month to apply for this temporary supply at a cost of €1,500.

The spokesman said applications were still being verified, with the total number of valid applicants expected to exceed 300.

A third of them are requesting a temporary supply at St Thomas Bay and the rest relate to services required in the Armier area.

Eyebrows were raised earlier this year when Times of Malta reported that Enemalta was installing smart meters in boathouses at Armier, including those that never had an electricity supply before.

Unofficial estimates indicate that only a quarter of the 800 Armier boathouses have an electricity meter.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has said regularising the abuse was the best way to deter theft, pointing out that such a move did not imply title to the land.