State-owned electricity company PLN president director Sofyan Basir says electricity theft costs the company Rp 10 trillion (US$71.96 million) annually.

 “There are many findings in both households and industries. Yesterday, we  found that electricity theft had occurred in two industries worth Rp 300 billion,” Sofyan said at the House of Representatives building as reported by tribunnews.com.

PLN is carrying out tight efficiency measures to maintain its financial performance as the government has prohibited the company from increasing electricity prices until 2019.

Sofyan said PLN would cooperate with law enforcers to monitor households and industries to prevent electricity theft.

He stressed that PLN would report its findings to police. “The electricity thieves have to face criminal charges,” he added. (bbn)