Tanesco nabs 10 for illegal power connections

Written by ABBY NKUNGU in Singida 

THE Tanzania National Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) in Singida region has nabbed ten people for connecting and utilizing the firm's power illegally for over a month.

TANESCO Regional Manager, Engineer Maclean Mbonile, told reporters here that the suspects were apprehended in August this year under a special operation by the company to crack down on people who steal electricity and deny the firm income.The operation dubbed Kamata Wezi wa Umeme  (KAWEU) is currently ongoing countrywide, he noted.

He said that a total of 4.04m/- is due to be recovered from the culprits in fines and actual costs of the electricity that they used and should have paid for. However, he said, to date only 1.8m/- has been paid.He further said that most of the culprits were found to have tampered with their electricity meters so that they could give wrong readings and others were found to have connected electricity illegally.

The TANESCO regional manager called on people intending to get TANESCO power or those already connected not to opt for underhand means because eventually they will get caught and the consequences are costly.  Meanwhile, Engineer Mbonile has asked TANESCO customers not to be afraid of the electricity recharge meters (LUKU).  

"I know that some people still have negative perceptions of LUKU meters, they should stop harbouring such misplaced views," he noted.He said that LUKU meters are devices intended to increase TANESCO revenues by receiving actual and exact collection from its customers.  

"But also it reduces paper work and other inconveniences both to the firm and the customer, the meters are here to stay, it is not a temporary or optional measure," he added.

Source: Daily News (01/10/2012): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/10040-tanesco-nabs-10-for-illegal-power-connections