TNB Suffers RM5.14 Billion In Losses From Power Theft - Fadillah
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has suffered losses amounting to RM5.14 billion to date due to electricity theft, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said that from 2020 to 2025, a total of 91 special operations were carried out, during which 14,489 premises were inspected, and 77 investigation papers were opened.
Over the same period, he said 85 cases involved premises found to be victims of electricity theft. Investigations confirmed that the owners were not involved in the offences and they were neither prosecuted nor required to pay any charges.
“Therefore, the measure we want to take is to enhance awareness, particularly among property owners, whether for residential or business premises. If they rent out their properties, they must ensure their names are not used to apply for the electricity connection.
“Ensure that the applications are made under the tenants’ names so that (owners) do not end up as victims of irresponsible electricity use,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) on TNB’s total losses due to electricity theft, especially involving cryptocurrency mining syndicates, during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
To curb electricity theft and prevent more people from becoming victims of identity fraud, Fadillah said TNB has implemented an identity verification system using fingerprints and MyKad, with data verified directly through TNB’s biometric devices.
He said the system is secure, complies with industry standards and is already widely used in the public sector, as well as banking and telecommunications.
“Under the digital identity verification process (eKYC), users must scan their identification document (MyKad or passport) and match it with a selfie for facial verification.
“eKYC will be gradually expanded from this year to cover all individual applications submitted via the myTNB portal. This will not only help reduce identity fraud but also strengthen user confidence and ensure adherence to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010,” he said.
According to Fadillah, the system has contributed to a decline in cases involving forged identity documents, with only three cases reported last year.
“Looking at the records of forged identity documents, we received 92 complaints in 2021, which dropped to 49 in 2022. In 2023, when the biometric system was introduced, the number of cases fell to 26, and in 2024, only three cases were recorded, all related to online applications,” he said.
He added that the government plans to extend the same system to online transactions more broadly, and it is currently being piloted in Kuala Lumpur before being expanded nationwide.
-- BERNAMA
