TNB Reports RM4.6 Billion in Electricity Losses from Illegal Crypto Mining
Authorities flag 13,827 premises, deploy AI-driven detection and multi-agency enforcement, and consider licensing and landlord-liability reforms.
Web3 Wavefronts - Digestible News on Crypto, DeFi and AI · theWeb3.news
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Show Notes
Show description: Tenaga Nasional Berhad reported cumulative electricity losses of about RM4.6 billion since 2020 linked to illegal crypto mining and flagged 13,827 premises nationwide for illicit connections or meter tampering; utilities recorded 1,800 cases by June and have shut more than 9,000 operations in recent years. Investigators identified tactics including meter bypasses, taps on distribution lines, and the use of cover businesses, and found some sites drawing more than RM1 million in electricity per month. TNB and regulators deployed substation smart meters, thermal imaging tied to complaint data, AI-driven analytics, and a centralized database to flag anomalies, prioritize field visits, and reduce detection times. Joint enforcement operations now involve the utility, the energy regulator, police, and local authorities, and penalties under the Electricity Supply Act can include fines up to RM1 million, prison terms up to 10 years, equipment seizures, and civil recovery of unpaid charges. Lawmakers and regulators are discussing explicit mining licenses, tightened landlord liability, mandatory submetering, and differentiated energy pricing for mining. The scale of non-technical losses has influenced tariff debates and utility capex planning and has created demand for vendors of detection technology, AI analytics, and substation metering. The reported operational checklist calls for securing utility-approved connections, installing certified meters, documenting load profiles, maintaining telemetry, negotiating transparent power terms, adding contractual protections and inspection rights, and preparing for inspections and seizures. Monitoring priorities include draft licensing guidance, deployment metrics for AI detection and smart metering and the monthly ratio of new cases to closed cases, and tariff or sustainability-linked pricing changes that could affect operating costs for high-load customers.
Source: https://theweb3.news/crypto/malaysia-crypto-power-theft/
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