Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative Inc. (Zamcelco) has intensified its anti-pilferage campaign after securing convictions against individuals involved in illegal electricity use, underscoring the company’s push to protect revenue and improve service reliability.
Eight people were convicted this month for violating the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994, following a joint entrapment operation conducted in March 2025 by the National Bureau of Investigation, police, military units, and Zamcelco’s Energy Recovery Team. The operation targeted illegal connections in Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City.
The case involved 11 suspects. Three opted to settle their differential billing, while the remaining eight proceeded to trial and were found guilty. Zamcelco said the outcome reinforces its zero-tolerance policy on electricity theft, which the utility identified as a major contributor to system losses and higher costs for legitimate consumers.
Zamcelco management said the convictions send a strong signal that the cooperative will actively protect its assets to ensure fair and reliable power service for its member-consumer-owners. The company also reiterated that the law prohibits unauthorized tapping of power lines, illegal connections, and the knowing use of stolen electricity.
As part of its broader enforcement drive, Zamcelco is offering incentives of up to ₱5,000 to individuals who provide verified reports of electricity pilferage. The utility said public cooperation is critical in reducing losses that affect overall operations and service quality.
Zamcelco added that it will continue filing cases against violators, citing a newly filed complaint this year against the owner of a large establishment in Suterville accused of illegally tapping power directly from the utility’s secondary line.
