Government Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Electricity Connections
Sahid Bangura The Government of Sierra Leone has deployed a National Revenue Protection Taskforce nationwide to intensify the fight against illegal electricity connections, power theft and other practices contributing to revenue losses in the electricity sector.
The taskforce comprises officials from the Electricity Supply and Distribution Authority (EDSA), the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Office of National Security (ONS). It has commenced operations across the country as part of efforts to protect electricity revenues and strengthen the financial sustainability of the national power utility.
According to EDSA, the taskforce was established at the instigation of Government amid growing concerns over revenue losses associated with electricity theft and other illegal activities. The authority says the losses have placed additional financial pressure on EDSA and contributed to the need for substantial government subsidies to support the purchase of electricity from Independent Power Producers.
The nationwide operation is targeting a range of electricity-related violations, including meter bypassing, meter tampering, illegal direct connections, unauthorised self-reconnection, billing irregularities and unpaid electricity bills.
EDSA has warned that individuals and businesses found engaging in illegal electricity activities could face immediate disconnection, punitive surcharges, arrest and prosecution. The authority has urged customers with irregular connections or outstanding obligations to regularise their accounts and settle their bills.
The involvement of the police, military and national security authorities is intended to support enforcement of the operation and ensure compliance with electricity regulations across EDSA’s network.
EDSA says continued revenue leakages could place further pressure on public finances and divert government resources from other national development priorities. The authority is therefore calling on customers and the wider public to cooperate with the taskforce.
The crackdown forms part of broader efforts to improve the reliability and financial sustainability of Sierra Leone’s electricity sector, with EDSA stressing that protecting electricity revenues is essential to sustaining operations, improving service delivery and supporting the country’s wider socioeconomic development.
The fact of the matter is that, even EDSA staff and government bodies failed to tell the public that do not have any idea about electricity supply is:
Electricity theft across Sierra Leone started to the government bodies that increased the tariff of electricity utility bills. For example ,if someone buys Nle100, 15 or 20 units of energy will be given to the customers. Where does the Nle85 or Nle80 money Went all in the name of tariffs being increased? That is where electricity theft started. Now ,if a technician bypasses’ the system, they call it theft, the money stolen from the customers they called it tariff increased. During the terms of formal president Ernest Bai Koroma, if you buy Nle100 EDSA, you will receive above 100 units of energy, that works with the normal electricity distribution energy rating.
I recommend, the energy tariff must be drastically reduced in the normal energy calculation. I am tired of hearing the misunderstandings between government bodies and customers across Sierra Leone.