1,000 tampered meters? ‘Pure speculation’

Bribed installers identified by anonymous letter • installer revealed how ‘impregnable’ smart meters were busted

Energy Minister Konard Mizzi
Energy Minister Konard Mizzi

The investigation by Enemalta's theft control unit that purported to have broken up a racket of tampered smart meters, was only made possible through a string of anonymous letters that said 'brokers' were advising people to get their single-phase, tamper-proof meters 'adjusted'.

But in spite of the impression given by energy minister Konrad Mizzi that "over 1,000 smart meters" were found to have been tampered with, this declaration remains a matter of pure, internal speculation.

MaltaToday has been told that the only concrete statement made so far has been the academic estimate of the annual €30 million losses from energy theft and unaccounted technical losses.

On its part, Enemalta has been unable to quantify how many single-phase and three-phase meters had been physically found to be tampered.

The corporation was unable to state the exact number of meters it has found hacked, and the amount of energy consumed illegally, when asked by this newspaper.

It claimed that its theft control unit uncovered the energy theft by analysing consumption patterns, and that so far only "initial results" have been passed on the police while the investigation continues. "Since both inquiries are still underway, Enemalta is not in a position to issue further information."

MaltaToday was told that Enemalta was alerted to the scale of theft taking place after anonymous letters pointed out employees who had carried out the adjustment of the meters.

It was only after police apprehended and interrogated meter installer Paul Pantaleresco, 55 of Mqabba, that they were given a ground-breaking insight into how Enemalta installers were hacking into the smart meters - Pantaleresco pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for his part in the bribery network.

Read the full report in MaltaToday

avatar
Tamper proof Smart meters? Not around Maltese ingenuity and corruption they're not. Maybe Minister Mizzi should find a way to sue the Smart Meter Manufacturer since they claimed this meter was tamper proof. And now Mr Joe wants to look the other way and forgive and forget the little fish so he can go after the big fish. If only ex PM Lawrence Gonzi was so smart and gave the Presidential Pardon to the little fish so he could go after the big fish. But then he already knew who the big fish was and that is why he gave him a Presidential Pardon. Ful u cicri u karawet. Veru post tal-Mickey Mouse.
avatar
Pure speculation? You can bet your bottom euro that there are a lot more than 1000 meters being tampered with in businesses and domestic households. Even the fact that the only person sentenced so far admitted to 250 cases of tampering, I wonder what that total would be when all 9 persons are taken to court.
avatar
Yes Pacam, agreed. The GonziPNisti will forever claim that title. Prosit!
avatar
Liars, liars, and pure damned liars.
avatar
U ghallura dan kif wehel sentejn meta ammetta li bghabas xi meters u dawk li bghabsu miljuni kbar mill-BWSC u mix-xiri taz-zejt ghadhom iduru mas-saqajn 'scott free'? Mhux qed nghid li,jekk zbalja dan it-talin m'ghandux jehel, imma bhal ma Mizzi ra pattern ta serq mill- ismart meters ta l-EneMalta, jien ukoll qed nara pattern ta kif taghmel xogholha l-Qorti u kif jinghataw is-sentenzi li ghalia mhumiex konsistenzi! Hemm minn wehel 17,000 ewro u xi uhud-kumbinazzjoni jehlu 1500;waqt li ohrajn addirittura 15 il- ewro?