The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO),  is to prosecute operators of eight saw mill companies at the Tamale Timber Market, for illegally connecting electric power to their installations.

NEDCO, led by its Central Coordinating task force and Area task force, visited the Tamale Timber Market  to inspect electrical connections of the saw mills, and discovered that eight out of 10 operators, illegally connected electric power to their installations.

The company,  therefore, disconnected electric power to the affected saw mills, and asked the operators to report at its (NEDCO) offices for the necessary action to be taken against them.

Alhaji Mohammed Siam, Manager of Public and Community Relations of NEDCO,  said the electric load to the affected saw mills would be assessed,  and operators made to pay the accumulated bills,  or face prosecution.

Alhaji Siam said some of the affected saw mill operators, who connected power to their installations without authorization from NEDCO, would be processed for court.

He explained the nature of the illegal connections by the saw mill operators, which included meter by-pass where most machines were drawing electric power outside of the meter with only bulbs drawing power from the meter.

The other form was total meter by-pass where the entire installation was drawing power outside of the meter.

Alhaji Siam said the exercise would be extended to houses and other institutions in the region to rid it of illegal connections.