BY James Kon

Autoriti Elektrik Negara Brunei Darussalam (AENBD) Head Ahmad Ridza bin Dato Haji Abdul Rahman recently highlighting the issue of cable theft, reminding the public of the penalty imposed on those who violated the penal code.

He said offences that have the potential of disrupting to key services are punishable by law to between three to 10 years’ imprisonment and four to 12 strokes of the cane.

He also highlighted at a joint press conference, hosted by the Fire and Rescue Department, that electric repaid metre tampering in private homes and commercial buildings can lead to a BND50,000 fine or no more than three months’ jail terms, or both, and should the offence persist after prosecution, the individual may be subject to BND250 fine for each day of the offence.

On the establishment of AENBD as a regulatory body set up in line with Chapter 223 of the Gazette Electricity Act on June 8, 2017, Ahmad Ridza said the agency aims to “strengthen compliance to the law and safety relating to the aspects of electricity in terms of generation, transmission, distribution and usage safety”.

AENBD was officially appointed on July 1, 2018 and mandated to implement and enforce Chapter 223 of the Electricity Order in phases, which in the early stage, focussed on the issuance of electricity generation licences.

In the future, he said, the provisions under the Act will be fully implemented to include ensuring resilient economic growth through electricity supply that is safe, secure, stable, resilient and sustainable.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin