Mar 5th , 2004
13 ARRESTED, 1,626 ILLEGAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS REMOVED

Friday, March 5, 2004/2:45 p.m.

Thirteen persons were arrested and charged while 1,626 illegal electrical connections were removed, as the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) conducted operations this week to reduce the incidences of persons illegally connecting to its electricity grid.

The operations, which were joint efforts between members of the company's Revenue Protection Department (RPD) and police officers from the Mobile Reserve, were conducted in the parishes of St. Andrew, Clarendon and St. Mary.

The removal of illegal connections is one of a number of strategies that JPS employs to minimise the extent of illegal connections and encourage legitimacy among consumers. During the operations, JPS targets those users without contracts as well as legitimate customers who devise various means of tampering and bypassing their meters. The Company also utilises other strategies such as: a community relations programme which encourages legality through conditional contracts and education and public awareness programmes.

JPS wishes to advise householders and business operators that they can be prosecuted under the Larceny Act if their contractors make illegal connections to the company's power lines in order to fulfill their contractual obligations.

The company also wishes to remind members of the public that electricity theft is a criminal offence and liable under law for imprisonment of up to five (5) years. The public is being urged to cease this practice, as it is very dangerous and can result in the loss of lives and property through electrocutions and fires.

In 2003 JPS removed 44,782 illegal electrical connections during 231 operations islandwide .

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