KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has incurred losses of RM4.57 billion from illegal power usage by cryptocurrency miners between 2020 and August this year, the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA) said.
TNB found that 13,827 premises had illegally used electricity to mine cryptocurrency, especially bitcoin over the period, PETRA said in a written parliamentary reply dated yesterday.
The ministry said TNB is working with authorities to curb power theft.
Though there are no specific laws governing cryptocurrency mining, tampering with meters or using connections to bypass them are offences under the Electricity Supply Act 1990.
PETRA said TNB has been able to seize bitcoin mining machines at premises involved following joint operations by the ministry, police, and other enforcement bodies.
“In an effort to curb this issue, a database that stores complete records of owners and tenants of premises suspected of being involved in electricity theft related to bitcoin mining activities has been established by TNB,” it said.
“This database plays an important role as an internal reference to identify and monitor suspicious premises and serves as the basis for operational inspection measures.”
Smart meters are also being installed at electricity distribution substations to monitor energy usage and detect any power manipulation in real time, PETRA added.
