Tanzania puts dimmer on electricity theft

Tanzania Electric Supply Company’s (Tanesco) automatic meter reader (AMR) has helped the national power supplier cut down on electricity theft among big users since the gadget was introduced mid this year.

Tanesco acting managing director Sophia Mgonja says the AMR system had helped them cut the theft of electricity, especially among industries, to almost zero.

“The system has helped us eliminate the theft of electricity which was being perpetrated by many big power users. The AMR helps to show everything done in the industry and how the power is actually used,” she said, according to the Tanzania Daily News. Mgonja challenged big power consumers to install the gadget because it helps save energy.

Mgonja said the government and Tanesc planned to come up with strategies to eliminate wasteful use of power and to make power available to more communities.