KARACHI, Jan 5: The Karachi Electric Supply Company has received over 10,000 complaints from citizens against illegal use of electricity of which 80 per cent were found genuine on checking during its recent anti-theft campaign.The people used all channels of communication to lodge the complaints as were announced by the KESC during its anti-theft media drive, claimed a KESC spokesperson on Wednesday.

Most complaints — or 7,009 to be precise — were received over the telephone, while 2,473 were lodged through emails. Text messages were used in 457 cases and 102 complainants used fax.

These complaints were made against all categories of consumers.

A total of 9,233 complaints were made against residential consumers, 731 complaints against commercial users and 77 against industrial users.

Illegal use of electricity by bypassing the meter topped the complaints as 7,502 such complaints were received.

A total of 1,644 complaints were about tampering with the meter.

Out of 10,041 complaints registered, 80 per cent were found genuine after raids were conducted by KESC teams belonging to its four regions as well as the revenue protection department.

The complaints and success rate of raids belonged to all areas of the metropolis regardless of income groups or social status levels.

Areas-wise complaints in descending order are as follows: North Karachi, Surjani, Korangi, Gulistan-i-Johar, Malir, Federal B Area, North Nazimabad, Garden, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Liaquatabad, Bahadurabad, Nazimabad, Orangi, Societies Areas, Defence, Saddar, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, Gadap, Baldia, Lyari, Clifton, Bin Qasim, SITE, Korangi Industrial Zone, Uthal and Pakistan Bazar.

“The participation of people is a very significant sign of public awareness that the menace of electricity theft and revenue stealing has to be removed from society without which there can be no end to loadshedding,” the KESC spokesperson observed.

“The KESC understands that more citizens need to join this campaign and point out locations of electricity theft in order to fulfil their moral and social responsibility and to discourage their fellow citizens against this social illness.”

The KESC spokesperson said that the power utility would welcome reports about any collaborators involved, including KESC employees, who assisted in the crime of electricity theft so that they could also be brought to justice.