Power thieves multiply

MORE JAMAICANS may be stealing electricity than has been estimated. J. Paul Morgan, head of a team which investigated the billing practices of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), says the rate of power theft is high.

"We found an alarmingly high trend and too many circumstances of actual physical evidence of meter-tampering and illicit activities of that type," Morgan said at a press conference to announce the findings yesterday.

He added: "We actually have formed a conclusion that the extent of meter tampering is probably more widespread on the JPS system than we would even have imagined."

In 2009, the JPS said it was losing to thieves almost 13 per cent of the electricity it produces. The electricity theft has pushed JPS' system losses to 22.9 per cent, well above the 15.8 per cent target set by the Office of Utilities Regulation in 2004.