Hotline of power engineering specialists:
In 2017, specialists of IDGC of Centre - Belgorodenergo division detected 801 facts of non-metered consumption of electricity with a total volume of 15.9 million kWh. The most common methods of stealing electricity were intervention in the operation or design of meters, hidden electrical wiring and unauthorized connection to grids.
The damage from illegal consumption of electricity exceeded 50 million rubles. More than 30 million rubles were reimbursed in the pre-judicial order, 155 cases were filed for the recovery of the cost of non-contractual and non-metered consumption worth over 12.8 million rubles, 136 of which have already received positive decisions.
In particular, more than half a million rubles for unauthorized connection was paid by an agricultural firm from Stary Oskol, 139,000 rubles were recovered from a garage and construction cooperative from Stary Oskol, and another 79,000 in the course of the trial was paid off by the owner of a car wash from Stary Oskol, caught on non-contractual consumption.
For individuals, violation of energy consumption standards in residential premises results in tens of thousands of rubles. So, more than 55 thousand for non-metered consumption was paid by an inhabitant of the village of Vyazovoe in Prokhorovsky district, 46 thousand rubles - his fellow countryman from the village of Seimitsa.
Non-metered consumption of electricity is detected during raids and scheduled inspections using special equipment. The amount of stolen goods in the case of non-contractual consumption is calculated on the basis of the cable capacity, in the case of a non-metered one, using an incremental factor or according to the maximum capacity specified in the contract, multiplied by the company’s business hours. If the consumer refuses to voluntarily reimburse the losses incurred by the company, the energy company applies to the court.
It was that way with a large producer of semi-finished products, located in the village of Pushkarnoye of Belgorodsky district. In the summer of last year, a crew of power engineers identified the fact of illegal access to the company’s grids using unrecorded cables. The cost of non-contractual consumption was calculated according to Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of 04.05.2012 No. 442, based on the cable capacity, and amounted to 907,653.96 rubles. The court satisfied the claims of IDGC of Centre, and after the entry into force of the decision, the offender paid the non-contractual consumption in full.
Power engineers remind that punishment for electricity theft is inevitable. And in case of detection of electricity theft, the violator not only compensates the damage to the power grid company, but is also brought to criminal or administrative responsibility with payment of a fine. Since 1 January 2016 in Russia administrative responsibility for unauthorized connection to grids and use of electric power, as well as violation of the rules for using electricity, rules for the device, and the operation of energy-consuming plants have been tightened up. If the consumer refuses to voluntarily reimburse the losses incurred by the company, the energy authorities go to court, after which the infringer has to compensate the court costs and pay an administrative fine in the amount from 10,000 to 200,000 rubles (Article 7.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). If a crime is committed by a group of persons by prior agreement or by an organized group, if, for example, the offender is a legal entity, and if the damage is classified as "particularly large", criminal responsibility is provided in the form of imprisonment for up to five years (Article 165, part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
IDGC of Centre continues regular work to prevent and suppress in the regions of its service area (11 subjects of the Central Federal District) facts of non-metered and non-contractual electricity consumption. The company’s staff conducts regular raids. Particular attention is paid to working with problem consumers. Their check is preceded by thorough preparation and instruction of raid participants by specialists from security offices of the branches.
Within the framework of conducting operational search activities, employees of regional FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia are involved in raids. Applicants’ materials on facts of unauthorized energy consumption identified by the security unit of IDGC of Centre are sent to law enforcement agencies, and often serve as the basis for initiating criminal cases against power thieves.
Please, be reminded that not only the electric grid company, but also respectable citizens, who regularly pay bills for electricity, suffer from criminal actions of power thieves. As a result of the theft of energy resources there are voltage fluctuations in the grid, household appliances of neighbours are out of order, probability of power outages and fires increases. In addition, interference in the operation of energy facilities is life-threatening! You can report a fact of theft by calling the 24-hour direct line of IDGC of Centre at 8-800-50-50-115 (short number 13-50) or by e-mail (vorunet@mrsk-1.ru). All calls will be checked by the company’s specialists for reliability.
