MIRI: Syarikat SESCO Berhad (SESCO), the operational and retail arm of Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), in collaboration with the police, recently uncovered yet another electricity theft operation run by cryptocurrency miners at a shophouse in Lutong here.
During the joint operation, SESCO’s metre inspection team and police discovered direct tapping cables concealed above a makeshift ceiling along the building’s five-foot way.
“The illegal connections were powering 52 cryptocurrency mining servers located inside the locked shophouse unit, discovered after gaining access to the premises through forced entry.
“The theft is estimated to have cost the utility more than RM500,000 in unbilled electricity consumption for the past three years,” SEB said in its press release.
SEB added that it remained committed to ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication (MUT) and law enforcement agencies to combat power theft, particularly in cases involving cryptocurrency mining, by monitoring and inspecting vacant and unoccupied properties for signs of power theft.
“SESCO has advanced monitoring technology in place that enables abnormality detection and potential power theft.
“From January to October 2024, SEB recorded 36 cases of electricity theft, resulting in the seizure of 770 cryptocurrency mining servers.
“It is estimated that power theft by cryptocurrency operators has led to a loss of over RM14 million for Sarawak Energy this year,” SEB stated.
It added that electricity theft was a criminal offence under Section 33(5) of the Sarawak Electricity Ordinance.
“Despite fines of up to RM200,000 and/or up to five years’ jail for those found guilty, power thieves continue to steal electricity to maximise their profits by reducing their power bills in various illegal ways.
“Illegal cryptocurrency mining setups pose serious safety risks, including fire hazards and electrocution, due to unregulated high-power consumption.
“These operations also put additional strain on the electrical grid, increasing the likelihood of power outages that can disrupt supply to communities and businesses,” SEB added.
The public is encouraged to report any information regarding electricity theft and suspected locations to SEB.
Reports can be made by calling the Customer Care Centre at 1300-88-3111, via the SEB Cares app or by emailing customercare@sarawakenergy.com.
All information will be treated with strict confidentiality.
