Latest news with #electricitytheft
Malay Mail
17-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Deputy minister: RM4.8b power lost to illegal bitcoin mining since 2018, offenders undeterred by enforcement
ALOR SETAR, July 17 — Electricity theft linked to illegal bitcoin mining activities has caused RM4.8 billion in losses from 2018 to June this year, said Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. He said the situation is alarming and calls for continuous enforcement to prevent further losses. 'Since 2018, electricity theft involving illegal bitcoin mining has cost RM4.8 billion - a massive loss. 'In terms of cases, we recorded 2,399 cases from 2023 to 2024 and this year alone, up to June, there have already been 1,800 cases,' he said. He was speaking to reporters after a joint operation involving the Energy Commission, Tenaga Nasional Berhad and other agencies, targeting seven premises suspected of electricity theft here today. Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir speaks during a press conference held during a joint raid on bitcoin mining premises in Alor Setar today. — Bernama pic Akmal Nasrullah said the surge in cases is driven by the rising value of bitcoin, which now exceeds RM500,000 per unit. 'This creates challenges for enforcement, as more are willing to take the risk of stealing electricity for mining,' he said. On today's operation, he said the seven premises were raided under Section 37(3) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990, with warrants obtained from the court. 'Our focus is to stop electricity theft, and public cooperation is crucial. If you see cables being connected illegally without going through the meter, report it,' he said. — Bernama
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Over 29,000 electricity theft cases detected in 2024 — EMRC
AMMAN — Authorities uncovered 29,636 cases of electricity theft across the Kingdom in 2024, according to the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission's (EMRC) annual report. The violations were identified during 174,481 joint inspections carried out by the EMRC, electricity distribution companies, and the Public Security Directorate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The report also highlighted a major surge in smart meter installations, with 918,449 units deployed in 2024, a 161 per cent increase compared with 352,264 units in 2023. By the end of the year, about 1.68 million smart meters had been installed, covering 69.3 per cent of Jordan's 2.42 million electricity subscribers. Complete coverage was achieved in Tafileh, Salt, Madaba, and Ajloun. Renewable energy systems continued to grow under national sustainability efforts. The number of systems connected to the grid under the net metering scheme rose to 81,146, with a total capacity of 853 megawatts (MW). Another 656 systems operating under the wheeling scheme added 315 MW. EMRC also issued three new licenses for renewable electricity generation, with a combined capacity of 8.69 MW. Supporting the Kingdom's transition to green mobility, the number of public electric vehicle charging stations reached 110, with 65 new licenses issued in 2024. In terms of energy mix, conventional sources accounted for 58 per cent of electricity generation in 2024, followed by renewables at 27 per cent, oil shale at 14 per cent, and imported electricity from Egypt at 1 per cent. Despite growth in the renewable energy sector, the number of individuals licensed for installation and maintenance fell to 132, down from 238 in 2023. The report also detailed national consumption of oil derivatives, which totalled 3.645 billion litres, including 1.588 billion litres of 90-octane gasoline, 14 million litres of 95-octane, 1.805 billion litres of diesel, and 103 million litres of kerosene. Jordan currently operates 708 fuel stations, with 19 new licenses issued and 12 renewed in 2024. The Kingdom inaugurated its first compressed natural gas station in Al Risheh to support industrial energy use and efficiency. EMRC also launched a campaign to monitor fuel quality, with a focus on preventing the illegal blending of kerosene with diesel. A total of 862 inspections were conducted at fuel and gas facilities. The commission also issued 1,927 mineral export licenses, 3,000 import licenses, four mining rights, 178 quarry licenses, eight exploration permits, and 40 explosives expert licenses. Radiation and nuclear safety efforts remained robust. The commission issued 2,098 licenses and permits related to radiation, while 289 radiation devices and 621 radioactive materials were imported. Nine devices were exported, and 153 materials were re-exported. Radiation exposure levels for workers remained within legal limits, according to 682 monitoring reports and 6,796 assessments. The Kingdom also operated 109 fixed radiation monitoring devices at its border crossings, conducting more than 1.86 million radiation scans throughout the year.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- The Sun
I'm raging after catching my neighbour STEALING electricity & this was after they caused our water to be cut off too
A WOMAN was left shocked after discovering that her neighbour has been stealing her electricity. The 29-year-old revealed that she recently moved to a new city with her husband and one-year-old child - and problems started to arise with her neighbour. 3 She explained that they live in a semi-detached building, and share a wall with their neighbour, who is in their late 40s or early 50s. The first issue they had with the neighbour is that she didn't pay her half of the water bill, and as they share one water metre, it was cut off. The US-based woman wrote on Reddit: 'We didn't make it a big deal about the water because it was resolved and turned back on the same day. 'We've given a lot of grace considering she smokes weed and it seeps through that wall so you can smell it through our restroom and child's room.' Things reached a head when they spotted she had been stealing electricity from them by plugging in a lead to go to her house. They immediately texted her asking what was going on, and her replies were rather emotional. She replied saying: 'I'll unplug asap, and I'll come right over to tell [sic] to you. 'It's been the worst week and I don't know how much more I can take.' She added in a later text: 'I'm at my wits end. 'Everything is falling apart and my daughter won't help me. Your kids are breaking law if they kick their ball over neighbour's fence, High Court rules after couple sued next door 'My electric bill is 2000 dollars because I went the whole year without paying everything myself. 'I'm paralyzed and I'll be sitting in the dark again in about 2 hours. 'NOONE can help me. And I'm so tired, I can't ask anyone for anything else. I'll be homeless.' The woman whose electricity was being stolen said they were also going through a hardship. She texted back: 'I feel like we've been respectful neighbors to you and would appreciate to be treated the same way. 'If you could have simply asked us out of respect we would have worked some type of agreement with you. 'I understand you're going through hardship but we are too. 3 'And we feel like you plugging into our electricity without asking is taking advantage of us thinking we're just a dumb young couple who won't notice. 'I understand you have a child you're taking care of but we have a baby we're trying to better provide for.' They explained that they would be now letting the property management handle the situation. 3 PAY BACK In response to this, the neighbour said she had been "embarrassed" to ask for help, and offered them $100 to pay them back for the electricity. Many people were shocked at the encounter, with one saying: 'She shamelessly plugged it in but too scared to admit fault. Instead of just owning up to her mistake, she's whining about how awful things have been for her. Coward.' Another added: 'There was no mistake here. What she did was very deliberate and had her sob story ready to go to guilt the neighbor into letting her continue to leech.' I had a two-year bin war with my next door neighbour Gemma Smith and Sophie Wood were engaged in a weekly feud for a year over their wheelie bins. When Gemma moved next door to Sophie, 34, who is unemployed, in November 2020 they were civil to one another. Gemma, who is single and doesn't work due to stress, says: 'Sophie seemed nice and we'd stop and exchange pleasantries. 'But it all changed at the beginning of 2022, when Sophie's bin was full and she put her rubbish bag in mine. 'I took it out and put it on top of her bin. 'It fell off, gulls pecked at it and there was rubbish everywhere.' Both women refused to clear up the mess, claiming it was the other one's fault. Gemma says: 'I felt so angry. 'There was cat litter spread all over my drive — it was absolutely disgusting and we ended up shouting at each other. 'We were both as bad as each other — we'd walk past each other and I'd tell her she was a lazy cow and to clean up after herself. 'We'd scream insults at each other." Within six months Sophie had set up a CCTV camera and threatened to report Gemma to the council. In retaliation, Gemma set up the baby monitor — which can record video — to try to pin more wrongdoing on Sophie. Then last July Sophie spotted Gemma in tears on her doorstep following a burglary at her home. Gemma says: 'Sophie came straight round and asked if there was anything she could do. 'We are now the best of friends and help each other out all the time."
Malay Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
TNB reveals electricity theft by illegal crypto miners in Malaysia jumps fourfold between 2018 and last year
KUALA LUMPUR May 12 – Electricity theft linked to illegal cryptocurrency mining in Malaysia has surged by nearly 300 per cent from 2018 to 2024, according to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The Star cited the utility provider saying this spike was uncovered through joint operations with the Energy Commission, the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and local councils. 'Joint operations and nationwide raids have successfully shut down illegal mining setups, contributing to an increase in detected cases from 610 in 2018 to 2,397 in 2024. These enforcement actions have safeguarded the stability of the power grid,' TNB reportedly said. 'For the same period, the average number of complaints related to cryptocurrency was 1,699, with an average of 340 per month. The number of complaints reflects increasing public awareness of reporting on illicit crypto mining activities.' Between January 2020 and December 2024, TNB said it recorded an average of 2,303 electricity theft cases annually linked to cryptocurrency activities. TNB said it detected suspicious electricity usage through continuous consumption pattern analysis and by collaborating with authorities to ensure reliable power supply for all users. To improve detection, TNB has ramped up the deployment of smart meters, which log daily electricity use and transmit data via radio frequency for real-time monitoring and billing. The company is also advocating for stronger enforcement under the Electricity Supply Act and the use of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to identify and flag abnormal consumption. Under the law, tampering with electrical installations carries a maximum RM1 million fine, up to 10 years' jail, or both, while offenders may also be charged under Sections 379 and 427 of the Penal Code for theft and mischief. In one high-profile case this January, around 60 homeowners and shop operators in Perak were hit with electricity bills between RM30,000 and RM1.2 million due to illegal connections set up by tenants involved in crypto mining. On April 30, police dismantled a syndicate involved in electricity theft for bitcoin mining in Hulu Terengganu and Marang. TNB said that as Malaysia aims to become a key digital economy hub, the use of blockchain technologies, tokenisation, stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies must be balanced with strong regulatory enforcement.
Malay Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
TNB reveals electricity theft by illegal crypto miners in Malaysia jumps threefold between 2018 and last year
KUALA LUMPUR May 12 – Electricity theft linked to illegal cryptocurrency mining in Malaysia has surged by nearly 300 per cent from 2018 to 2024, according to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The Star cited the utility provider saying this spike was uncovered through joint operations with the Energy Commission, the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and local councils. 'Joint operations and nationwide raids have successfully shut down illegal mining setups, contributing to an increase in detected cases from 610 in 2018 to 2,397 in 2024. These enforcement actions have safeguarded the stability of the power grid,' TNB reportedly said. 'For the same period, the average number of complaints related to cryptocurrency was 1,699, with an average of 340 per month. The number of complaints reflects increasing public awareness of reporting on illicit crypto mining activities.' Between January 2020 and December 2024, TNB said it recorded an average of 2,303 electricity theft cases annually linked to cryptocurrency activities. TNB said it detected suspicious electricity usage through continuous consumption pattern analysis and by collaborating with authorities to ensure reliable power supply for all users. To improve detection, TNB has ramped up the deployment of smart meters, which log daily electricity use and transmit data via radio frequency for real-time monitoring and billing. The company is also advocating for stronger enforcement under the Electricity Supply Act and the use of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to identify and flag abnormal consumption. Under the law, tampering with electrical installations carries a maximum RM1 million fine, up to 10 years' jail, or both, while offenders may also be charged under Sections 379 and 427 of the Penal Code for theft and mischief. In one high-profile case this January, around 60 homeowners and shop operators in Perak were hit with electricity bills between RM30,000 and RM1.2 million due to illegal connections set up by tenants involved in crypto mining. On April 30, police dismantled a syndicate involved in electricity theft for bitcoin mining in Hulu Terengganu and Marang. TNB said that as Malaysia aims to become a key digital economy hub, the use of blockchain technologies, tokenisation, stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies must be balanced with strong regulatory enforcement.
