672 referred to court for electricity theft in Q1

AMMAN – The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission said Saturday it dealt with 7,220 cases of electricity thefts in the first quarter of 2016.

In March alone, it handled 2,487 cases, Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiyari told The Jordan Times Saturday.

Majority of the cases were in the central region area, according to the commission.

Of the total cases detected, around 672 cases were referred to court since the beginning of this year until end of March, he added.

The official called on citizens to report any attempts to tamper with the grid or any cases of electricity thefts to authorities, which harms power supply.

The commission has recently implemented several campaigns to raise awareness among citizens on the serious consequences of electricity thefts as it also launched simultaneous campaigns to crack down on violators.

The official added that the commission, in collaboration with concerned authorities and power distribution companies in the Kingdom, will continue efforts to put an end to the issue of electricity thefts.

Electricity theft is estimated to cost the Kingdom about JD60 million annually. 

Current laws stipulate that any person involved in stealing electricity faces between six months and two years in prison, and a fine of no less than JD2,000 and no more than JD10,000, or both penalties.