Jozi businesses join power theft racket
The high cost of electricity is driving businesses to bypass meters and connect electricity illegally.City Power has confirmed receiving increasing reports of electricity theft by businesses.In a report to the municipal public accounts committee, City Power says businesses "resort to bypassing meters due to high costs" of power, which have risen "by over 100%" in the past few years."City Power has noticed that customers resort to bypassing their meters so as to pay a reduced amount for electricity. "In the past, most customers who bypass [meters] are residential customers. But in recent months, City Power's corporate investigation has reported businesses who resort to bypassing meters," the report says."City Power is now installing protective structures and relocation of meters to prevent this."Meter-rigging - in which luxury car dealerships, shopping centres, business complexes and a five-star hotel and spa have been implicated - has cost Johannesburg more than R200-million.Working in collaboration with "corrupt City of Johannesburg officials who have access to the city's water and electricity accounts", business owners are able to bypass the billing system and avoid paying for electricity...
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