Actively prevent and combat violations of electricity usage

(Baonghean) - The Youth Volunteer Team (YTS) for preventing and combating electricity violations is a new model jointly implemented by the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union and Nghe An Electricity Company. The initial operation has brought about practical results in detecting and handling violations of electricity use, and raising awareness of safe, economical, effective and legal electricity use among the people.

The Youth Union Team for preventing and combating electricity violations in Do Luong district was officially established and put into operation in April 2015 with 10 core members who are Youth Union members from the District Police, Electricity Department and leaders of some Youth Union units in the district. Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Secretary of Do Luong District Youth Union, Team Leader of the Youth Union Team said: The team was established to promote the pioneering role of young people in propagating to Youth Union members and people the awareness of using electricity safely, economically, effectively and in accordance with the law; at the same time, the team is also responsible for participating in detecting and handling violations of electricity use and electricity theft. In August 2015 alone, the team coordinated with Do Luong Electricity Branch to inspect the following units: Phong Lam Commune, Phong Thinh Commune, Cat Van Commune, Thanh Chuong District and Dai Son Commune, Do Luong District, discovering 3 cases of electricity usage violations causing a loss of 7,405 kWh, with a fine of 21,270,000 VND.

In areas where there are no members of the Youth Union, Do Luong District Youth Union has arranged and posted volunteers to coordinate when required. These are both propagandists and "eyes and ears" in detecting acts and violations of electricity use. In addition, to prepare for the approaching storm season, the team also coordinates with the Electricity industry and grassroots unions to organize campaigns to clear the power grid safety corridors in areas such as Hien Son, Tru Son, etc.

The Youth Union of Do Luong district, which prevents violations of electricity usage, started clearing trees. Photo: Manh Cuong

Faced with the reality of electricity use violations, especially electricity theft, which is taking place quite complicatedly in the area, not only causing damage to the electricity industry but also being very dangerous for violators because of the potential risk of electrical accidents. Therefore, during its operation, the Youth Union of Dien Chau district focuses on promoting safe electricity use, preventing electricity use violations, and preventing electricity theft among the people, as well as promoting Decree 134/2013/ND-CP of the Government issued on October 17, 2013, regulating administrative sanctions in the field of electricity, safety of hydroelectric dams, economical and efficient use of energy, etc. In addition, it strengthens coordination in inspecting and detecting electricity use violations in key areas. In the first phase, 1,090 records were made, of which 1,086 were for checking the metering system and 4 were for checking electricity usage. Through the coordination of the inspection work of the TNXK team, 4 subjects were recorded for handling violations, of which 2 cases were handled due to metering errors with a total value of over 7 million VND, 2 cases were handled due to electricity theft with a total value of over 19 million VND...

Mr. Ngo Thanh Cong, Deputy Secretary of the District Youth Union, Head of the Youth Union Team for preventing and combating violations in electricity use in Dien Chau district, said: In addition to the local youth force, the team also has the participation of staff from the Electricity sector and the district police, ensuring both professional and technical factors and legal support, so the coordination and implementation of activities are also more favorable, especially in handling violations. All members of the team are trained by the Electricity sector in the necessary knowledge to ensure safety and effectiveness when participating in activities. However, due to many reasons, the team currently only operates in batches and quarters and cannot operate regularly. The activities of the Youth Union Team have had a positive impact in raising people's sense of responsibility and awareness of compliance with legal regulations in electricity use; At the same time, support the Electricity industry in detecting and handling negative behaviors in electricity use, improving electricity quality". In the coming time, Dien Chau District Youth Union will continue to deploy and replicate the model of Youth Union to prevent and combat violations in electricity use in 39 communes and towns throughout the district.

Assessing the effectiveness of the Youth Union model to prevent and combat violations of electricity use, Mr. Pham Van Toan, Deputy Head of the Provincial Youth Union's Urban Workers' Youth Department, said: In recent years, electricity theft has occurred frequently in the province and has become increasingly sophisticated. While the power line infrastructure in rural areas has been used for many years and maintenance work is limited, the power sector's force is too thin, unable to meet the requirements of preventing and combating violations and ensuring power grid corridors in all areas. Based on that reality, the power sector is in great need of synchronous coordination from all levels of government, especially the Youth Union. Therefore, the sector has proactively signed an agreement and developed a coordination regulation with the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union to establish Youth Union teams to prevent and combat violations of electricity use (under the district Youth Union Executive Committees) and support a small part of the operating costs for the teams (drawn from the bonus for handling violations of electricity use). Based on the results of the pilot model in Dien Chau and Do Luong, in the coming time, the Provincial Youth Union and Nghe An Electricity Company will continue to expand the youth volunteer teams to prevent violations of electricity use in a number of districts in the province.

Gia Huy