1,000 tampered meters? ‘Pure speculation’

The investigation by Enemalta's theft control unit that purported to have broken up a racket of tampered smart meters, was only made possible through a string of anonymous letters that said 'brokers' were advising people to get their single-phase, tamper-proof meters 'adjusted'.

But in spite of the impression given by energy minister Konrad Mizzi that "over 1,000 smart meters" were found to have been tampered with, this declaration remains a matter of pure, internal speculation.

MaltaToday has been told that the only concrete statement made so far has been the academic estimate of the annual €30 million losses from energy theft and unaccounted technical losses.

On its part, Enemalta has been unable to quantify how many single-phase and three-phase meters had been physically found to be tampered.

The corporation was unable to state the exact number of meters it has found hacked, and the amount of energy consumed illegally, when asked by this newspaper.

It claimed that its theft control unit uncovered the energy theft by analysing consumption patterns, and that so far only "initial results" have been passed on the police while the investigation continues. "Since both inquiries are still underway, Enemalta is not in a position to issue further information."

MaltaToday was told that Enemalta was alerted to the scale of theft taking place after anonymous letters pointed out employees who had carried out the adjustment of the meters.

It was only after police apprehended and interrogated meter installer Paul Pantaleresco, 55 of Mqabba, that they were given a ground-breaking insight into how Enemalta installers were hacking into the smart meters - Pantaleresco pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for his part in the bribery network.

Read the full report in MaltaToday