Electricity office seizes usage meters from Sittwe homes

By Admin 19 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
19 June 2023, Sittwe

Local residents in Sittwe have complained about the township electricity office’s seizure of electricity meters in the Arakan State capital.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha, electricity office staff have since early June been seizing electricity meters from houses in at least five wards in Sittwe, according to residents.

Staff of the Electric Power Corporation (EPC) took electricity meters from some houses in Bawlonekwin Ward on June 1, saying it was part of a replacement program. 

“Two EPC staff came and took electricity meters. They said they were told by their higher-ups to take all the electric meters that are 30 years and older. They came with a list of households. The electric meter is still in good condition,” a resident told DMG on condition of anonymity.

Daw Hnin Aye of Mizan Ward said: “It is not clear if we will have to pay for a new electricity meter. I don’t know how much electricity bills will cost as there is no electricity meter.”

EPC staff announced with loudspeakers on June 17 that households whose electric meter were taken would have to pay according to their monthly use average.

Some households, however, did not allow EPC staff to take their electricity meters.

“The electricity meter at my house is still in good condition. So, I told them not to take it. They took electricity meters from other houses,” said Daw Ma Nan of Bauk Thee Su Ward.

DMG’s calls to Sittwe Township electrical engineer U Than Myat Oo went unanswered.

Many electricity poles were blown down by Cyclone Mocha in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Pauktaw townships, resulting in widespread and prolonged blackouts.

Electricity was restored for wards in Sittwe and Ponnagyun on June 7, and other affected townships are expected to get electricity back in the first week of July.