Alhaji Kanja Sesay, the Minister of Energy, has announced that his ministry will be taking a non-traditional approach to combat energy and electricity theft, and anti-social behavior in the country. During a press conference on Monday 22nd January 2024, at the Electricity House in Freetown, the Minister stated that his ministry will be more aggressive than before and will be paying unannounced visits and going on a massive disconnection drive irrespective of status. He also mentioned that they will start naming and shaming customers, hotels, and factories. The Minister expressed his frustration over the issue and appealed to all to join in the fight emphasizing on the actions that will be taken against anyone found in the act. The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) in a recent public notice reminded the public that any form of electricity interference leading to abstraction and non-payment of electricity bills is a violation of the National Electricity Act of 2011. The Ministry of Energy has taken several steps in the past to help fight against those obstructing and destroying electricity supplies but not going anywhere causing huge technical and commercial losses. Despite the establishment of a special Presidential task force and a special court to address electricity theft, the problem still persists.
It stated that as illegal abstraction of electricity continues to be a menace that negatively impacts the Authority’s ability to provide reliable and sustainable power to its valued customers, the authority will continue its nationwide routine exercise of monitoring and inspecting premises and business houses with the aim of checking the appropriateness of the electricity installation to combat this menace.
The Authority is advising and encouraging all its valued customers to stop all forms of illegal abstraction or electricity theft with immediate effect and report all suspected cases of illegal abstraction or electricity theft to EDSA on 672 or 079695104.
