JOHOR BAHRU, Apr 24 – A knowledge sharing session titled “Meter Installation Tampering (MIT) and Energy Integrity” was successfully conducted at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), with the participation of 115 students from the SKEE 2022 Electrical Energy Literacy course. The program aimed to enhance students’ awareness and understanding of electricity theft issues, particularly focusing on meter tampering practices and their implications on power system operations and energy governance.

The program was jointly organized by the Department of Electrical Power Engineering (POWER), FKE, UTM, and the Special Engagement Against Losses (SEAL) Unit of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The session was delivered by Principle Engineer Ir. Nabila Silam Abu Muslim, with support from Ir. Norfadhilah Tukichan.

Students were introduced to the fundamentals of electricity flow in power systems, covering generation, transmission, and distribution. The speaker highlighted the importance of accurate energy measurement at every stage to ensure transparency and accountability in system operations. This helped students connect theoretical knowledge from lectures to real-world industry practices.

A key focus of the session was the distinction between technical losses and non-technical losses. While technical losses occur naturally due to energy dissipation in electrical components, non-technical losses are caused by external factors such as electricity theft, faulty meters, and billing issues. Electricity theft through MIT was identified as a major contributor to non-technical losses, making it a critical concern for utility companies like TNB. The session also covered enforcement and regulatory aspects, highlighting strict penalties and practical measures such as inspections, tamper detection, and improved metering security to deter electricity theft and ensure system integrity.

In addition to technical and regulatory perspectives, public awareness and community responsibility were emphasized as one of the important factors in preventing MIT cases, with students reminded of their roles as future engineers and responsible consumers in promoting ethical energy use and system integrity. The session was also highly interactive, with students actively engaging in discussions and asking questions on real-life electricity theft detection and prevention, helping to bridge academic learning with industry practice and providing exposure to current power system challenges.

The program concluded with appreciation extended to the SEAL TNB team for their collaboration and contribution. Overall, the session successfully enhanced students’ understanding of MIT, electricity theft, and energy integrity. It also strengthened industry–academia collaboration by providing meaningful exposure to real operational and enforcement challenges in the power system sector. Such initiatives are important in producing future engineers who are not only technically competent but also ethically aware and industry-ready.

Prepared By: Dr. Nurul Nadia Ibrahim and Ts. Dr. Nur Ayeesha Qisteena Muzir, Faculty of Electric Engineering, UTM