Officials at electricity distribution stations often receive bribes from residents to discreetly allow them to siphon off electricity. These officials are known to punish residents if they steal electricity without paying bribes.
A North Korean resident in his 40s in Masandong, Hyesan City (Ryanggang Province), was recently accused of stealing electricity from the Hyesan Youth Mine and was punished with a sentence of two months in a labor-training camp.
A source in Ryanggang Province told Daily NK on August 8 that many people have been sent to labor-training camps for crossing the borders, smuggling, or violence, but this was the first time that someone was imprisoned for stealing electricity.
“The resident was caught secretly siphoning off electricity without paying a bribe during a crackdown by the official in charge of the power station. The accused asked, ‘Why are they only punishing me when there are many others stealing electricity as well?’” he said.
According to the source, nearly half of the households in Hyesan are secretly using electricity intended for a state-run plant. The officials in charge of the power distribution stations earn money by allowing individuals to use the electricity generated by the state.
Residents connect their own wires to the electricity cables that provide electricity to the state-run enterprises or the homes of high-ranking officials. This form of illegal connection is referred to as “nose hooking.”
“The regime does not provide enough electricity for civilian use, so residents have no choice but to pay bribes to use the electricity provided to state-run enterprises. In Hyesan, you have to pay 100 RMB (about USD$15) a month to the officials in charge of power stations, as well as a pack of cigarettes and a nice meal at least twice a month,” the source explained.
A separate source in Ryanggang Province said, “If you are caught using the electricity without paying the bribes, you’ll be punished for stealing. Whether you’re arrested or not depends on whether you’ve paid a bribe,” a separate source in Ryanggang Province said.
“Residents know that officials at the power stations are lining their own pockets using the electricity provided by the state. Wouldn’t it be better if people could instead legally access the state electricity by paying a monthly bill?”
