‘Power thieves’ caught in the act

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Three persons were apprehended for alleged power pilferage in Iloilo City.

But MORE Power and Electric Co. will not pursue charges against Emma Macavinta of Brgy Hipodromo, City Proper and Guy Berte and Rayland Randeza of South Baluarte, Molo for now.

Instead, the power distributor only logged their alleged violations in the police blotter for record purposes and as a warning.

But the firm will push through with the cases if the three do not apply for connections or if they will continue illegally tapping to the distribution lines.

The trio was caught Thursday when MORE Power mounted an anti-power pilferage drive led by TASK FORCE MORE KONEK.

In a statement, MORE Power said they found and disconnected numerous illegal connections to their secondary lines.

But some alleged pilferers were not caught in the act because they immediately disconnected the lines to their houses.

Some residents said that they had difficulties in applying for connection and electric meter with the former distribution utility, the reason why some of them resort to stealing power.

MORE Konek Task Force encouraged them to immediately apply with MORE Power because the requirements were already streamlined in partnership with the City Government of Iloilo.

Barangay officials will also issue the necessary certificate to legitimize the residency of informal settlers who want to apply for connection and meter.

MORE Power said it is intensifying its operations against power pilferers or jumpers as they are the biggest contributors to the systems loss or electricity supply lost to technical and other reasons.

The systems loss charge is being passed on to consumers. But more than anything else, illegal connections are the major causes of fire incidents due to overloading of transformers and powerlines, the power firm said.