Hotline of power engineering specialists:
The branch of IDGC of Centre summed up the effort to curb the facts of non-contractual and non-metered electricity consumption for eight months of the current year. During this period the specialists of the branch revealed 285 facts of non-metered electricity consumption, totalling more than 1 million 300 thousand kW/h and 27 cases of non-contractual consumption in the amount of 260 thousand kW/h. 258 acts of non-metered consumption at 1.14 million kW/h were drawn up, and the facts of non-contractual consumption were also documented.
In all cases of the non-metered electricity consumption the inspection materials were sent to law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to administrative responsibility in accordance with Art. 7.19 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation. To date, the branch has collected more than 4 million 700 thousand rubles from the fraudulent consumers.
The most frequently identified ways of electricity theft include some impact on metering devices, breaking the seal of electricity meters, connection of power installations bypassing the meter, connection to electric networks without the conclusion of a relevant contract, etc. Kurskenergo reminds: in addition to power theft being an illegal act, it is fraught with persons involved in this with other serious problems. Grid connections, bypassing the grid company, performed in a "primitive" way, can lead to improper operation of grid equipment and electric shock, and overheating of electrical wiring or a short circuit is often a cause of the fire. Furthermore, the additional non-metered load on the grid leads to voltage drops, which are a cause of failure of appliances, reducing the reliability of power supply.
Kurskenergo struggles against power theft systemically. One of the most effective methods of work in this area are raids, in which employees of Distribution Zones of Kurskenergo check operation of meters and inspect overhead power lines for illegal connections.
Conscientious consumers can also help power engineers in solving the power theft issue, reporting possible facts of theft to the grid company on the around the clock direct phone line at 8800 50 50 115.