Escom worried over illegal connections

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Escom Malawi load-shedding

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has expressed concern over high number of illegal connections saying the malpractice costs the company a lot of money.

Escom Malawi load-shedding
Escom: Angered with illegal connections. (File)

Speaking to the media lately, Escom Chief Executive Officer John Kandulu said the power supplier registers a high number of illegal connections every day, which is making it hard for the company to concentrate on equally important investments.

“Instead of us investing money in other projects we are being forced to always take a step backward and channel the money to costs associated with illegal connections such as repairing damaged Escom equipment,”  Kandulu said.

He said the malpractice is widespread in markets and added that illegal connections can sometimes cause fire.

Kandulu however pointed out that information gap between the power supplier and its customers is the main challenge the electricity supplier face in trying to solve the problem. He said the company has no platform to inform everyone the risks associated with illegal connection.