Escom losing billions to illegal connections
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) has lamented over loss of funds due to illegal connections.
In an interview on Sunday, ESCOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Innocent Chitosi said the company is losing billions of Kwacha as a result of illegal connections.
“The malpractice is very rampant and happening across the country which is tremendously affecting our operations,” he noted
Chitosi expressed gratitude to customers and members of the public for supporting ESCOM in its effort to fight illegal connections which has led to a number of suspects being arrested after receiving some tip offs.
In curbing this undesired practice, the corporation has intensified sensitization campaigns to members of the community.
He said, “We are carrying out civic education campaigns urging community members collaborate with us to root out this malpractice.
“We have put in place some security measures that I will not disclose for fear of alerting the suspects and these measures and others are already yielding results.”
The PRO said it was shared responsibility to make sure that customers and members of the public are supporting ESCOM in its effort to fight illegal connections which has led to a number of suspects being arrested after receiving some tip offs.
He said that the malpractice is perpetrated by some prospective customers who have been avoiding paying the fees that ESCOM demands for its services.
“Some customers think that the under-the counter deals are faster but we should operate that way,” he said.
Chitosi said the introduction of prepaid meters is helping the company to collect significant revenue.
“With prepaid meters we are assured that customers pay for what they use. This is also helpful because we do not have to send meter readers team to discount defaulting customers.
“Prepaid is also convenient to our customers as they are able to monitor and manage their consumption as far as electricity is concerned,” he added.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
It’s better to lose to illegal connections than to corruption.
Lesser evil theory applied
pakutenga zaka kuti akupatse quotation yet akuti ndalama alive. you have 1million plus application forms akungosunga mpaka unyeme. shame. act on them .. connect as many people as possible then make money. katangale mpakana pa quotation abale. shame on you.
Yaaa zofuna inu mwayiwala kuti mumatenga mafuta ama generater kuwapasa a DPP ndiye lero mwawona kuti ndalama yakuchepelani ndiye mufuna muzilimbana ndi anthu ngati iwo amakakwela nawo pa polo bwanji mbudzi zamano kuntunda kokha basi
No problem coz u fund Dpp also
yes bcoz of irregularities in the system. mabwana amapatsa ndalama ndalama eskom kwaikila magetsi nyumba yongotha 1 month kuimanga. zomanga 3 yrs ago tikanayendera kuikilidwa magetsi timauzidwa zipangizi sizinabwele only to be told kuti mupelekeko kena kake.
same ku water department.
FOOLISH SYSTEM UNDER THE PITALA. AND ALL ALL
Indeed. Someone should tell these idiots to speed up processing of applications and this issue will rest.