Unaville business busted for stealing power

In a coordinated effort to combat crime and illegal electricity connections, City Power today joined forces with the South African Police Service (SAPS), Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Community Patrol Unit (CPU), Johannesburg Environmental Health and Gauteng Traffic Police for a special operation in the Lenasia Service Delivery Centre (SDC) area.

The operation which underscores the entity’s commitment to working alongside law enforcement agencies to create safer communities focused on tackling illegal electricity connections, a major concern for the entity.

During the operation, a business in Unaville, Lenasia South was found to be illegally connected to the grid and utilizing a prepaid meter instead of the mandated LPU meter.

“Not only was this business bypassing the proper billing system, but they haven’t been billed for electricity use since the illegal connection was established in 2018,” City Power explained.

To rectify the situation and deter future transgressions, City Power officials conducted a level 3 disconnection, confiscating the circuit breakers and the illegal prepaid meter. The business also received a disconnection letter outlining the reasons for the action.

Emphasizing the detrimental impact of illegal connections, the power entity added: “These illegal activities significantly contribute to revenue losses, ultimately hindering our ability to maintain and improve the electricity infrastructure.”