14,497 power thefts detected nationwide in 9 months

AMMAN — The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) on Wednesday announced the detection of 14,497 electricity theft cases in the first nine months of 2018. 

Law enforcement personnel at the EMRC detected 7,363 cases of the thefts, while employees of the three electricity distribution companies discovered 5,130 cases. 

The Public Security and Gendarmerie departments personnel added 2,004 cases, said EMRC Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiari in a statement to The Jordan Times. 

The cases detected by EMRC personnel included 4,907 cases within the jurisdiction of the Jordanian Electric Power Company (JEPCO), 1,624 in areas affiliated with the Irbid District Electricity Company (IDECO) and 832 cases in the Electricity Distribution Company’s jurisdiction (EDCO), the chief commissioner pointed out.

JEPCO is responsible for providing power to the central region that comprises the governorates of Amman, Zarqa, Madaba and Balqa, while IDECO supplies the northern governorates of Irbid, Jerash, Ajloun and Mafraq. The southern governorates of Aqaba, Tafileh, Maan and Karak receive power from EDCO.

During the same period, 1,556 electricity violation cases were referred to court, while court verdicts were issued for 1,506 cases, the statement said.

Hiari stressed that the commission and concerned authorities will continue to intensify and scale up the inspection campaigns carried out by the commission during official working hours and on holidays, to combat electricity theft and address attempts to tamper with the electrical system. 

The law stipulates that anyone who tampers with the electrical system or is involved in electricity theft faces imprisonment from six months to two years, a fine between JD2,000 and JD10,000, or both.

Under the law, all those who intentionally vandalise, destroy or hinder the work of power facilities or cause them any damages shall face imprisonment terms between one to three years or a fine ranging between JD2,000 and JD100,000 or both. The penalty can be stiffened if the violation causes danger to public safety.