DARKNESS EXPOSED: TANESCO uncovers massive nationwide electricity theft

 

Sangiwa, the company’s meter manager.

By Julieth Mkireri , The Guardian

THE Tanzania Electric Supply Co. (TANESCO) has uncovered cases of electricity theft and other infrastructure-related offences during a nationwide meter inspection exercise targeting customers who have gone for extended periods without visibly purchasing electricity.

Mrisho Sangiwa, the company’s meter manager, said the exercise, which began on August 31, had by September 5 covered 8,500 customers in various parts of the country, he told journalists here at the weekend.

The inspections had also resulted in customers being identified for infrastructure offences, with fines collected during the period amounting to 300m/-, with inspections involving system-based monitoring and physical inspections of meters at customers’ premises.

Inspectors found a meter that has not purchased electricity since September 2025, which demonstrates how some people are sabotaging the utility, he stated, asserting that monitoring customers’ electricity consumption patterns was important in identifying irregularities

This helps to ensuring that electricity services are used in accordance with established procedures, he said, while Ning’aza Jacobo, the utility’s regional revenue officer, saying that inspections in Bagamoyo District had uncovered cases involving illegal connections to electricity supply lines.

She cited a case in which a customer whose electricity meter had developed a fault opted to obtain power from a neighbour instead of reporting the problem to TANESCO.

“Choosing to tap electricity from a neighbour is an offence and the one connecting them without authorization was liable as well.  We have disconnected power to both parties and instructed them to report to TANESCO,” she said.

She urged customers experiencing meter or electricity supply problems to report them rather than resorting to unauthorised connections, which can expose them to penalties.

Bagamoyo resident Abdallah Said saluted the firm for this exercise, urging the utility to carry out such operations regularly to deter electricity theft and other illegal practices.

Frequent inspections would help discourage individuals who deliberately tamper with electricity infrastructure or use power through unauthorised connections.

Another resident, Siawezi Juma, called for increased public education campaigns to help communities understand the dangers and consequences of electricity theft.

She also urged residents to cooperate with authorities by reporting individuals suspected of using electricity illegally.

The ongoing inspection exercise is part of TANESCO’s efforts to strengthen revenue collection, protect electricity infrastructure and curb illegal connections and other practices that undermine the power supply system, the revenue officer noted.