Hundreds have applied for an amnesty that has been offered to people who stole electricity from Enemalta through a scam involving tampered smart meters.

The government gave those involved six weeks to come forward with information on who supplied them with the meters, pay a fine and their dues back to the corporation, or face tougher penalties and prosecution.

That deadline is up on April 6 and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said he is happy with the feedback.

“The turnout has been very good, in the hundreds,” he said in an interview with

The Sunday Times of Malta. He said he would rather wait to announce the exact figures after the deadline is up but suggested there were several hundred, “well over 400... we will be collecting millions of euros in this way, beyond our expectations.

He added that the government was also drafting a law that will raise considerably the fines for future instances of electricity theft.

See full interview in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.