Hotline of power engineering specialists:
In the 1st quarter of 2017, during regular inspections and raids, specialists of IDGC of Centre - Lipetskenergo division revealed 116 facts of non-contractual consumption - electricity consumption in the absence of an energy supply contract, in the amount of 1.709 million kWh. So much electricity is needed to ensure functioning, for example, of Volovsky district of the Lipetsk region within one month. In monetary terms, the amount of damages caused to the power company amounted to 5.66 million rubles. Of these, 2.069 million rubles have been reimbursed to date. The remainder is being collected through the court.
In addition, according to the results of inspections, 374 acts were drawn up on the non-metered consumption - electricity consumption with violations in the electricity metering system at 3.144 million kWh.
The largest percentage of non-metered and non-contractual electricity consumption fell on consumers of Dobrovsky, Dobrinsky and Yeletsky Distribution Zones.
In the fight against the theft of electricity, Lipetskenergo uses a comprehensive approach. The work is done not only to identify cases of theft. Serious accent is also made on the implementation of a set of preventive measures, including the replacement of old induction meters with modern digital ones; installation of protected measurement units on power lines and other modern technical devices.
Automatic real-time metering systems show "unbalance" across individual power lines. Indicators of hidden wiring and antimagnetic seals indicate facts of interference in the operation of electricity meters.
Last year alone, Lipetskenergo’s specialists installed more than 10,000 antimagnetic seals in their service area, with a large part (68%) on personal metering devices. The equipment of meters with such seals allows not only to detect, but also to prove the theft of energy resources.
Among the technical measures taken by power engineers to prevent energy theft is the use of insulated wire in the construction and reconstruction of low-voltage power lines, the operational characteristics of which exclude the possibility of unauthorized connection.
An important role in the fight against theft of electricity is given to awareness-raising work with the population, in which power engineers tell about the negative consequences of such offenses and the penalties for them.