CEB and Ministry to tackle power piracy problem

There are talks at the CEB (Ceylon Electricity Board) and the Ministry of Power and Energy about how to tackle the problem of electricity piracy that has been going on unabated islandwide, causing heavy financial losses to the CEB, rather the government coffers.

Reportedly, the government agency responsible for lighting the country and providing power to its industrial sector has been losing over Rs. 10 million monthly as a result of electricity piracy.

The investigation unit of the CEB has pointed out that a large number of unscrupulous businessmen and domestic electricity consumers in the island have been involved in high-tension wire tapping or manipulating electricity meters, adding that catching them remains a tough job.

Large-scale textile factories and other types of industries especially in the North and the East were also found consuming electricity distributed by the CEB through wire-tapping or manipulating meters, the investigating unit indicated.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Power and Energy has instructed the CEB to strengthen the 'investigation unit' so that more and more culprits will be caught by it.