Updated | Third Enemalta employee suspended pending theft investigations

A third Enemalta employee was suspended yesterday pending police investigations into electricity theft.

Enemalta has already suspended two of its employees, suspected of having assisted customers in stealing electricity, before suspending a third yesterday evening.

In a statement, the energy company said Enemalta’s efforts to reduce its non-technical losses continued this year, with further inspections and inquiries to identify and stop cases of theft and other electricity supply irregularities.

Pending further police investigations, a total of 13 workers were suspended last year.

“In the latest developments, the Company suspended two employees pending further Police inquiries after they were suspected of assisting customers in stealing electricity. The case was identified after an investigation by the dedicated team of Enemalta employees working to curb electricity theft. All information was handed over to the Police, who are now investigating the two suspended workers,” a spokesperson for the company said.

Last year, Enemalta introduced several measures which led to a 33% reduction in electricity theft losses. The company allocated more resources to increase random inspections and to check suspected irregularities. It started using specialised tools to identify irregularities in electricity consumption readings.

The company’s efforts were consolidated by the Government’s decision to revise electricity theft regulations and increase penalties for perpetrators caught stealing electricity, raising fines from 10% to 200% of the cost of the stolen electricity.            

“Backed by 2014’s positive results, Enemalta is continuing its inspections and inquiries to restrain electricity supply irregularities,” the company said.

Enemalta urged individuals aware of such irregularities to contact the company and provide the necessary details for further inquiries.

Reports on electricity theft can also be lodged anonymously through the Enemalta website www.enemalta.com.mt.

For assistance, the public can contact the Enemalta customer care team on 8007 2224 or [email protected].