REPUBLIC ACT 7832

or otherwise known as
“ANTI-ELECTRICITY PILFERAGE ACT OF 1994”

A. Salient Provisions of RA 7832.

1. Illegal Use of Electricity [Section 2]

It is hereby declared unlawful for any person, whether natural or

juridical, public or private, to:

1.1. Tap or connect with overhead lines, service drops, or other electric service
wires, without authority or consent of the DU;
[Line side Connections].
1.2. Tamper, install or use a tampered electrical meter, jumper, current reversing
transformer or any device which interferes with the accurate metering of
electric current;
[Altered Service Facilities]
1.3. Damage or destroy an electric meter, equipment, wire or conduit or allow any
of them to be damaged or destroyed as to interfere with the accurate
metering of electric current; and [Damaged or Destroyed Facilities]
1.4. Knowingly use or receive the direct benefit of electric service obtained
through any of the acts mentioned in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) above.

2. Prima Facie Evidence [Section 4]

The term ‘prima facie evidence’ denotes evidence which, if unexplained or

un-contradicted, is sufficient to sustain the charge that the person committed
or benefitted from illegal use of electricity.

2.1. The presence of a bored hole on the glass cover of the electric meter, or at
the back or any other part of said meter;
2.2. The presence inside the electric meter of salt, sugar and other elements that
could result in the inaccurate registration of the meter's internal parts to
prevent its accurate registration of consumption of electricity;
2.3. The existence of any wiring connection which affects the normal operation or
registration of the electric meter;
2.4. The presence of a tampered, broken, or fake seal on the meter, or mutilated,
altered or tampered meter recording chart or graph, or computerized chart,
graph, or log;
2.5. The presence in any part of the building or its premises or on the electric
meter, of a current reversing transformer, jumper, shorting and/or shunting
wire, and/or loop connection or any other similar device;
2.6. The mutilation, alteration, reconnection, disconnection, bypassing or
tampering of instruments, transformers, and accessories;
 2.7. The destruction of, or attempt to destroy, any integral accessory of the
metering device box which encases an electric meter, or its metering
accessories; and
2.8. The acceptance of money and/or other valuable consideration by any
employee of the distribution utility concerned or the making of such an offer to
any employee for not reporting the presence of any of the circumstances
enumerated above.
2.9. Provided, however, That the discovery of any of the foregoing circumstances,
in order to constitute prima facie evidence, must be personally witnessed and
attested to by an officer of the law or a duly authorized representative of the
Energy Regulatory Board (ERB).

“Officer of the Law”

An officer of the law is any person who is charged with the maintenance of
public order and the protection and security of life and property, such as
barangay captains/chairmen, barangay councilmen, barangay leaders,
officers/members of the Barangay Community Brigades, PNP policemen,
municipal councilors, municipal mayors and provincial fiscals.

3. Penalties [Section 7]

3.1. The penalty of prision mayor (imprisonment from 6 years 1 day to 12 years)
or a fine ranging from P10,000 to P20,000 or both, at the discretion of the
court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of illegal use of electricity.
3.2. Penalty of paying double the value of the estimated electricity illegally used
which is referred to as differential billing amount.

B. Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of RA 7832.

1. Inspection Rules and Procedures.

1.1. LASURECO conducts inspections in the premises of registered customers.

1.2. An Inspection Report shall be made by the LASURECO personnel and a
copy shall be given to the customer.
1.3. LASURECO personnel are allowed to confiscate implements of electricity
pilferage.

2. Role of Officers of the Law.

2.1. Third Party Representative – Attest to /Verify the Facts Gathered During
Apprehension.
2.2. Maintenance of Peace and Order – Security of Crew, Equipment and
Evidence