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SEMPORNA: Some 66 homes at the Kg Selamat squatter settlement here are glad they can now enjoy “halal” (legal and proper) electricity supply under Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd’s (SE) pilot “centralised meter house” project.

It would mean some of them no longer have to resort to stealing electricity, which is not only dangerous but costs SE some RM220,000 in losses yearly.

Dani Kaising, 62, a resident of more than 40 years, expressed gratitude, saying it has significantly improved their life quality.

“For 35 years we suffered without proper electricity. We relied on generators.  At night we had to watch the fuel and sometimes the engines broke down. It could cost up to RM15 a night (RM450 per month) just to have electricity from 6pm until dawn,” said Dani, who earns a living selling treated water.

The father of five said it is worth the cost as supply is now available 24 hours a day and safer.

“Now it’s cheaper and gives us peace of mind. The official supply is stable,” he said at the project’s launch.

He hopes it would be further improved to ensure comfort and well-being of the community.

Another villager, Abdul Muin, 67, said as registered users, each household now has its own official meter.

Abdul, who has lived in the village since 1981, said the installation of new meters marked a major change for the community, which initially had only 48 houses before growing rapidly to hundreds of homes.

Previously, the villagers also faced safety risks due to unstable supply and many had to tap into shared connections because they did not have individual meters.

“Now, thank God, we have proper meters. It’s easier and brighter. Most importantly, the supply is stable and legal,” he said. He added that villagers used to live in constant fear of legal action or fines for illegal connections.

“With official installation, those risks are gone and safety has improved,” said Abdul.

On three previous fire incidents in the village, Abdul denied they were due to illegal wiring, saying they were believed started by children playing with fire.

Earlier, Sabah Electricity (SE) chief executive officer Datuk Ir. Ts. Mohd Yaakob Jaafar said the Kg Selamat pilot project, costing about RM266,000, was part of a more holistic effort to curb illegal connections in squatter areas.

Completed on Aug 7, 2025 after a year of development, he said the project aims to provide safe and legal electricity supply while preventing annual revenue losses of about RM220,000.

“The scope included constructing a meter house, upgrading supply infrastructure and centralising meters at a single location. Currently, 66 registered local residents are enjoying the official supply and domestic tariff rates similar to other areas,” he said.

Mohd Yaakub said the project has also reduced supply disruptions, with interruptions dropping from 87 cases (3.25 minutes per user) in 2024 to 32 cases (1.62 minutes per user) in 2025. Two more squatter settlements – Kg Delima in Kota Kinabalu and Kg Boggaya in Sandakan — have been identified for similar projects in April.