Snip the crime, not the cables

The theft of power cables and tampering with electric meters cause significant damage beyond just the loss of materials and disrupted billing. They threaten public safety, service reliability, and trust in essential systems. Recent incidents have highlighted this often-underestimated crime, emphasizing the need to support power distributors like Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

In 2025, Meralco reported nearly 300 incidents of power cable and meter theft, causing widespread outages that affected thousands of households and injured individuals who came into contact with live wires. These events underscored that electrical infrastructure was not scrap metal — it is a vital, interconnected system where one act of theft can lead to serious consequences.

Cable theft is often viewed as a minor inconvenience, but its impact is significant. Unexpected power outages disrupt hospitals, traffic systems, businesses, and homes. Repairs take resources away from essential grid upgrades and resilience projects. In the end, the cost of stolen infrastructure is absorbed by the utilities and passed on to the customers.

The issue, however, is not confined to Meralco, it also affects telecommunications companies, private utilities, and electric cooperatives nationwide. Last year, telecom firms reported numerous incidents of theft of fiber-optic cables, disrupting services for entire communities.

Rural electric cooperatives face similar challenges, with the theft of a single line plunging towns into darkness. This troubling trend highlights the persistent targeting of essential infrastructure by thieves, resulting in compromised public services and a lack of accountability.

Meralco’s response demonstrates effective intervention. The company has issued public warnings about the dangers and legal consequences of infrastructure theft, and it has improved its coordination with law enforcement. Recent operations with the Philippine National Police uncovered illegal electric meter-selling, highlighting the organized nature of this crime. These actions underscore that electricity theft is not a harmless shortcut, it threatens fairness and public safety.

Public participation is crucial and Meralco’s repeated calls for citizens to report suspicious activity around electrical facilities is not corporate sloganeering. These are practical appeals for shared responsibility. Utilities operate in public spaces. Street-level vigilance by barangays, building administrators, and local residents can thwart thefts before they escalate to outages and fatalities.

There is also a policy conversation that must be had. Laws against electricity pilferage exist, but consistent enforcement and swift prosecution matter just as much as penalties on paper. When cases drag on or fade from view, deterrence weakens. Clear accountability for thieves, fences, and repeat offenders strengthens the entire system. At its core, electricity is a public good delivered through private and public cooperation.

As a Poll Starter, protecting power cables requires more than linemen and police operations, it requires a cultural shift in how we view infrastructure crimes. Cable and meter theft are not clever workarounds in a tough economy. They are acts that endanger lives, disrupt communities, and erode fairness.

Meralco’s recent actions show that vigilance, coordination, and public engagement can push back against this threat. The challenge now is ensuring that these efforts are matched by sustained community support and policy resolve, because when power lines and facilities are stolen, everyJuan suffers, everyJuan pays.