Hotline of power engineering specialists:
Specialists of the security unit of IDGC of Centre - Tverenergo division initiated five criminal cases under Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Infliction of property damage by fraud or abuse of trust" for illegal electricity consumption.
Three criminal cases against consumers, who committed large-scale theft of electric energy, were initiated in Konakovsky district of the Tver region, two more - in Tver and Bologovsky district. The total amount of economic damage inflicted by Tverenergo within these criminal proceedings is more than 16 million rubles. In each situation cases were initiated against consumers - legal entities. These are shops, production facilities and a recreation centre.
The main violations identified are the installation of metering devices equipped with devices that distort readings, the removal of an antimagnetic self-adhesive seal, the absence of an organization seal on the cover of the meter terminals, and so on. These facts of non-metered consumption of electricity were identified by first responding mobile groups of internal audit of the Tver branch of IDGC of Centre during raids. In addition to experts of the electricity metering department the first responding mobile groups of internal audit include employees of the security unit of Tverenergo.
"The initiation of criminal cases under Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation was made possible by large joint work of power engineers and representatives of law enforcement agencies," stressed Sergey Ozerov, deputy director for security of IDGC of Centre - Tverenergo division. "At present, each of these facts is under investigation, after which the cases will be referred to the court."
Tverenergo draws attention to the fact that non-metered and non-contractual consumption of electric power entails administrative and criminal (if the amount of damage caused is more than 250 thousand rubles) responsibility. The maximum punishment under Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is imprisonment for up to 5 years.
