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FEATURED: REG, partners in new effort to curb electricity theft

FEATURED: REG, partners in new effort to curb electricity theft

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Cases of folks that conceal themselves as Rwanda Energy Group (REG) workers to thieve strength through tempering with meters have been rampant. The offenders regularly use illegal practices to connect families with strength illegally.

The robbery becomes hurting REG’s revenues and derailing us of an’s development efforts. Incidences of fireplace breakouts, deaths, and energy shortage that influence businesses, amongst others.

Stanley Nkubito Kamugisha, Head of Energy Efficiency and Revenue Protection Unit at REG, said that over the last10 years, the company had recovered stolen energy objects worth Rwf3 billion in stolen items while 3000 human beings were arrested for these illegal sports.

The recovered objects consist of cables, transformers, and electric-powered poles amongst different infrastructures. The suspects commonly sell the houses to people and groups, Kamugisha said. The recovered items couldn’t be reused because they had been damaged.

Theft in districts

curb electricity theft

 

Last yr Kayonza district alone misplaced over Rwf22 million in stolen REG items as 20 people had been arrested. James Mugabo, the REG Branch Manager in Kayonza District The department turned into mounted in 2016. “Since we started our operations, we collaborated with nearby leaders to lower the cases of unlawful activities that had been rampant throughout the district,” he defined.

Joel Elvis Nsabimana, the Manager of the REG department in the Musanze district, said that 21 people were arrested this yr. They have been stuck with property well worth Rwf6 million. In Nyarugenge district, 5 human beings were arrested this year as the employer recovered Rwf1.5 million, in step with Martin Mutsindashyaka, the supervisor of the REG department in the district.

Fulgence Nkundabakuze, the REG Manager in Gicumbi district, additionally cited that six human beings had been caught in tempering with meter last year whilst four others were caught stealing REG assets months ago. The district recorded over Rwf2 and five million because of strength theft Rwf11 million stolen gadgets. At the beginning of this month, the Ineza Flour manufacturing facility’s turbines became stuck with a meter that gives misguided payments. The milling companies operate from Gikondo Industrial Park in Kimihurura.

It reportedly induced a large loss to REG. While it became to pay Rwf2.1 every month, it ended up paying Rwf700,000.

Mechanisms

Kamugisha defined that REG has provided you with measures and penalties to cope with the problem. “As we proceeded to attach more households throughout the united states, we started counting the instances of fraud and theft in all districts throughout u . S. With most of the people within the cities,” he said.

The Kigali, Rusizi, and Rubavu districts metropolis was mentioned as some of the main regions with the highest quotes of strength fraud and theft. “The united states of America is experiencing excessive urbanization degrees that create greater pressure on the present infrastructure, which includes energy. It turns into difficult whilst some people are caught in destroying what turned into made for preferred hobbies. Until today, we are registering cases of fraud,”

The recovered tools emerge as useless because they’re determined too damaged to be re-used. Cables are cut in portions, and they can’t be used anymore. It was found out that maximum cases arise at night time. According to Aime M.Uwanyirigira, Head of Commercial Cycle Performance Unit, REG, one of the deployed measures consists of appointing agents inside the community to provide statistics.

It is stated that some residents get engaged in unlawful sports ignorantly. “We inspire residents to be more vigilant and alert us approximately such human beings. They should let us recognize in case of the technical guide. Some go to them and ask for money for any service; they must recognize that isn’t our group of workers because our personnel are not alleged to price cash,” she delivered

Rwanda Investigative Bureau’s Spokesperson Modeste Mbabazi has warned individuals who have interaction fraudulent sports. He added that the public must be more sensitized about the difficult measures taken over such thefts.

New Law

In line with the brand new regulation determining fashionable offenses and penalties that became posted within the legitimate gazette these days, the article 51talks approximately fraudulent subtraction of electric strength.

The law says that any character tempers with a meter, make use of the unlawful approach to subtract, department off or divert or reason to be abstracted, branched off any electric electricity, or makes use of this type of electric strength which has been fraudulently or unlawfully abstracted, branched off or diverted commits an offense.

Upon conviction, the suspect is at risk of imprisonment for a term of now not less than six months and now not more than one year with a first-rate of no longer much less than Rwf1 million and no longer exceeding Rwf5 million or this sort of consequences best.

Beatrice Nelson

Explorer. Extreme communicator. Problem solver. Alcohol buff. Beer geek. Twitter nerd. Bacon lover. Food fan. Wannabe tv fanatic. Managed a small team deploying velcro in Bethesda, MD. Spent a weekend working with hobos in the financial sector. What gets me going now is merchandising plush toys in Ocean City, NJ. Garnered an industry award while merchandising dandruff for the government. At the moment I'm short selling Slinkies in New York, NY. Spent 2001-2006 researching terrorism in Salisbury, MD.

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