92 arrests for electricity theft in 2020

The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has disclosed that 92 arrests were made last year for electricity theft. Of these, 67 took place in the parishes Kingston and St Andrew, with 10 from St Catherine.

Since the start of 2021, there have been 10 arrests for the illegal abstraction of electricity. Meanwhile, the JPS continues to fight against theft using several methods, ranging from the more obvious removal of illegal wires, to the use of smart devices to detect concealed theft. The JPS teams also conducted 81,623 account audits between January and December last year. Of these, 8,430 irregularities were discovered.

In addition to these measures, the company has also been carrying out a number of social intervention initiatives, through its Community Renewal Programme, to help educate and empower persons to receive legal supply. This programme is active in a number of communities in the Corporate Area, St Catherine and St James.

Advanced technology

Moving forward in 2021, the JPS will continue to use more innovative approaches which include advanced technology. Customers are also now able to assist in the fight for fairness, by reporting theft through the recently launch MyJPS Mobile App. JPS is also reminding all persons, that in addition to theft being a crime, it is also extremely dangerous, putting property and lives at great risk. Persons are being reminded to set the right example for their children and to do their part to make Jamaica a better place for families and businesses alike.

Persons caught stealing electricity may be arrested, as well as back-billed for up to six years.