Negros Power Cracks Down on Electricity Theft

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Power President and CEO Roel Castro vowed to pursue individuals involved in electricity theft after a Bacolod resident was caught red-handed committing the crime.

“It’s unfair to our legitimate consumers who religiously pay their electricity bills,” Castro said in a press statement over the weekend.

He added, “We will continue to apprehend those who steal electricity and hold them accountable under the law.”

A Bacolod resident’s Holy Week took an unexpected turn after he was apprehended by Negros Power’s security team for illegally tapping into the power line.

Alias Jony, a resident of Barangay Banago, was caught at around 9 a.m. on April 16 while connecting a wire from a secondary line to his home without a meter.

He was unable to deny the offense and was immediately turned over to Bacolod City Police Station 3 by the company’s apprehension team.

He remains in police custody as authorities prepare to file charges.

Under Republic Act 7832, or the Anti-Pilferage Law, electricity theft is punishable by imprisonment and fines of up to PHP100,000.

Negros Power officials revealed that Jony had been caught with illegal connections twice before and had been summoned to settle differential billing charges but failed to comply.

This prompted the utility’s security team to monitor his residence, eventually catching him in the act.

This marks the first time the company has apprehended someone red-handed for electricity theft.

Negros Power has since issued a strong warning to others engaging in the illegal activity, urging them to apply for legal connections.

The company emphasized that stolen electricity contributes to system losses, which are ultimately shouldered by paying consumers.

The arrest serves as a stern reminder to those attempting to bypass the law.

Negros Power reaffirmed its commitment to protecting legitimate consumers and maintaining a fair and equitable electricity distribution system.