Over 19,000 cases of electricity theft recorded in 2019 — EMRC

AMMAN — The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) on Thursday said that it had documented a total of 19,061 electricity theft cases in 2019.

EMRC Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiyari said that 3,948 electricity theft lawsuits were filed in 2019, with courts issuing final rulings on 2,020 of the cases, according to an EMRC statement.

Hiyari added that in December alone, EMRC personnel detected 918 alleged electricity thefts, including 605 cases that were registered under the jurisdiction of the Jordan Electric Power Company (JEPCO), which distributes electricity to Amman, Zarqa, Balqa and Madaba.

A total of 234 thefts were registered within the Irbid District Electricity Company’s (IDECO) areas, which comprises the northern governorates of Irbid, Mafraq, Jerash and Ajloun, and 79 cases were reported within the Electricity Distribution Company’s (EDCO) areas, covering the southern governorates of Aqaba, Maan, Karak and Tafileh.

Also in December, security bodies detected 160 alleged thefts, while electricity distribution companies detected another 708 cases, the statement said.

Among the 19,061 electricity theft cases in 2019, 6,790 were registered within JEPCO areas, 2,726 cases in IDECO areas and 1,031 in EDCO areas.

The commission and the concerned authorities will intensify inspection campaigns during official working hours and on holidays to combat electricity theft and address attempts to tamper with the electrical system, Hiyari added.

The law stipulates that anyone who tampers with the electrical system or is involved in electricity theft may face imprisonment from anywhere between six months to two years, a fine from JD2,000 to JD100,000 or both.

Under the law, all those who intentionally vandalise, destroy or hinder the work of power facilities or cause them any damage could face imprisonment for one to three years, a fine ranging from JD2,000 to JD100,000, or both.

The penalty could be increased if the violation poses any danger to public safety, Petra added.