The free electricity supply at McDonald's outlets and wireless Internet access have attracted power hogs, some of whom stay for hours and go as far as taking along their own multi-plug adaptors to maximise the use of each power socket. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

But other customers of McDonald's and Starbucks find these 'power hogs', who may stay put for hours, annoying.

Security staff at shopping malls chase the power hogs away too.

Freelance designer Alvin Tan, 34, finds nothing wrong with meeting clients over coffee at Starbucks' Raffles City outlet. He sometimes stays for up to four hours.

'I use Starbucks' electricity supply to run my laptop, but the battery is fully charged in case I cannot get an available power socket,' he said.

But accountant Jen Hu, 29, who was sitting near Mr Tan on Wednesday, had to run her laptop on its battery as all available sockets had been taken up.

She said: 'I accept that it's first come, first served, but these people can be too much. They would use it for hours.'

Human resource manager Nathaniel Yeo, 31, was similarly miffed.

He said: 'Once, I asked a woman charging her laptop at Starbucks at The Cathay if I could share the power point. She ignored me.'

Some people go as far as to bring their own multi-plug adaptors.

Student Linnet Soh, 20, is one.

'I can charge my laptop and cellphone this way. I have seen others doing it too,' she said.

McDonald's and Starbucks, whose outlets all have wireless access, said they do not discourage the power hogs.

Ms Linda Ming, senior communications manager of McDonald's restaurants, said customers are welcome at all outlets.

'Our trained crew are always on hand to ensure customers are comfortable,' she said.

Starbucks marketing manager Ruth Yam said: 'Where possible, we have tried to create more power points for customers to use.'

But shopping malls seem less tolerant of power hogs.

On Thursday evening, when Sunday Times reporters tried to plug mobile phone chargers into a power outlet in the basement of Ngee Ann City next to Takashimaya Square, a guard chased them away. The power point was located at a pillar next to some benches.

The security guard said the public was not authorised to use the socket. Takashimaya declined to comment.

Sales executive Jeremy Ng, 32, had a similar experience at Suntec City last week. He said: 'I wanted to charge my cellphone there, but a security guard came and told me to take it out.'

Mr Kevin Ng, general manager of Suntec City's management, said power points on common property are meant for its maintenance crew and authorised contractors.

'They are not switched off for ease of access by authorised users. It is rather impossible to secure all power points in our development as they are found almost everywhere,' he said.

'However, if our security officers and maintenance personnel come across unauthorised users, they would courteously request that they refrain from using our electricity supply.'

awcw@sph.com.sg

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

Should shopping centres allow customers to charge their mobile phones on publicly available power points?

Send your views to suntimes@sph.com.sg

Click to vote