Hotline of power engineering specialists:
One of businessmen faces criminal responsibility for non-metered consumption of electricity.
During the analysis of electricity consumption at their section, employees of Lipetsky Distribution Zone of IDGC of Centre - Lipetskenergo division found that one of individual entrepreneurs had significantly lower meter readings than in previous periods. An unscheduled check was ordered. As it turned out, the businessman from the village of Kuleshovka intervened in the meter operation. As a result, according to power engineers, 120,153 kWh of electricity were stolen, the damage is equal to 800 thousand rubles. The materials of the check have been transferred to the police, the individual entrepreneur faces criminal liability.
Today, IDGC of Centre - Lipetskenergo division has all the necessary equipment to detect the theft of electricity. As a result, in January-February of 2018 specialists of IDGC of Centre - Lipetskenergo division identified 240 cases of non-metered consumption. The total amount of the prevented damage is 3.3 million rubles.
In addition, the power engineers regularly conduct raids, during which illegal connections to electrical grids are identified. Since the beginning of the year, Lipetskenergo has recorded 81 such cases for a total of 1.6 million rubles. So, one of residents of the village of Bolshoy Khomutets in Dobrovsky district, who unauthorizedly connected electricity to the new house, after the intervention of the branch’s employees, paid 109 thousand rubles under an act of non-contractual consumption.
The power company reminds that today the legislation provides for a strict punishment in respect of energy thieves. So, unauthorized connection to power grids on the basis of Art. 7.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses entails a major administrative fine. As punishment for the theft of electricity, criminal liability is also provided under Art. 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: causing property damage by deception or abuse of trust. The maximum punishment under this article is imprisonment for up to 5 years with a fine of up to 80 thousand rubles.
