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During the first half of 2016 IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division revealed 457 facts of theft of electricity. The volume of non-metered energy thus amounted to 12.5 million kWh. Power engineers of IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division noted an increase by 12% in the number of thefts of electricity compared to the same period last year. In particular, as a result of raids held in the first half of 2015 they revealed only 381 cases of unauthorized connection to electric grids of the branch.
The branch conducts systematic work on the detection and prevention of facts of non-metered energy consumption. The main tool to combat theft is raids, including jointly with law enforcement authorities, in which employees of Distribution Zones check operation of metering devices, inspect power lines and transformer substations for illegal connections. If the theft is identified, an act on non-metered electricity consumption is made up and a report on administrative offense is issued. For six months of 2016, except for administrative penalties in the form of fines, from the violators 2.6 million rubles were collected for the consumed electrical energy without a contract. In the case of non-payment of damages voluntarily, offenders will be under trial and legal costs will be added to the principal amount of damage. In addition, 11.7 million kWh were recovered on the facts of identifying non-metered electricity consumption.
Main types of violations, for which the energy company detects theft facts, include various ways of influencing a metering device, breaking the seal of electricity meters, replacement of a metering device without notifying staff of a grid company, concealment of facts of a metering device being out of order, connection of power installations bypassing the meter and connection to electricity grids without a contract with a retail company.
In addition to violations of the law electricity theft has two serious problems. Firstly, grid connection bypassing the grid company, made in an "artisanal" way, can result in improper operation of grid equipment and electrical shock. Secondly, additional non-metered load in the grid results in voltage drop and damage to appliances of bona fide consumers and reduction of reliability of their energy supply.
Conscientious consumers can help utilities to solve these problems, reporting possible theft facts to the grid company via the around-the-clock straight phone line at 8 800 50 50 115.
