Hotline of power engineering specialists:
IDGC of Centre continues systematic work to identify and suppress non-metered and non-contractual electricity consumption.
Based on the results of large-scale raids conducted in the first half of the year by personnel of Distribution Zones and electricity metering offices of the company’s branches, including jointly with specialists of the security unit, 3,618 facts of illegal consumption of electric power in the total volume of 100.15 million kWh were identified and suppressed in the service area of IDGC of Centre (11 subjects of the Central Federal District). Most of this volume, 79.51 million kWh, is accounted for legal entities.
The energy company takes measures to compensate for the damage. In respect of violators who have not voluntarily made it, court decisions are made on recovery. On the remaining facts, the claims and lawsuits continue.
In addition, the applicant’s materials on the facts of unauthorized consumption of electricity were sent to law enforcement agencies. As a result of their consideration, criminal cases were initiated on the grounds of the crime provided for in Art. 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Causing property damage by deception or abuse of confidence").
Among the identified cases of energy theft since the beginning of the year by IDGC of Centre’s specialists, there have been quite significant ones. So, employees of the Tambov branch of the company stopped a fact of non-metered consumption of electricity by one of enterprises in Michurinsky district. During a planned inspection the power engineers found damage to the seal in the power plant operating on its territory. The damage incurred by the power company amounted to more than 2.2 million rubles. On this fact, an application was sent to law enforcement agencies.
Employees of the branch "Tverenergo" in early summer during a routine inspection revealed a large fact of non-contractual energy consumption by the management company of Kalininsky district, which illegally connected sewage pumping stations, a water tower and a pumping station to the power grid. The total amount of non-metered power consumption was 1.127 million kWh, the amount of damage - over 9 million rubles. An act on the non-contractual consumption was drawn up and an application for offense was sent to law enforcement agencies.
Facts of quite significant volumes of theft were also detected with private individuals. One of such cases was recorded by IDGC of Centre’s power engineers in early July in Yaroslavl. Carrying out the control check of a technical condition of electric grid facilities, experts of Yarenergo revealed a fact of non-contractual consumption of electric power by inhabitants of one of private houses in total volume of 390 thousand kWh. The total cost of the electricity stolen from the power company amounted to almost 1.34 million rubles, an appropriate application was sent to law enforcement agencies.
It should be noted that illegal "enterprising" activity of dishonest consumers is punished severely: they not only compensate for the damage to the power grid company, but are also brought to criminal or administrative responsibility with payment of a fine. In case of non-reimbursement of damages within the established period, materials on revealed facts of theft are sent by power engineers to the court.
So, in the Tambov region in May, a trial was completed on the fact of non-metered consumption of electricity supplied by IDGC of Centre to one of production and construction companies located in the regional centre. Last year it turned out that current transformers with expired state verification were used at the production facility owned by the company. At the same time, the company did not fulfill the previously issued instruction for verification (replacement) of these transformers, which is legally its duty. According to the decision of the Arbitration Court of the Tambov region, confirmed by the courts of appeal and cassation, it will return more than 15 million rubles to the sales organization.
IDGC of Centre reminds that bona fide consumers, who regularly pay bills for electricity, suffer greatly from criminal acts of violators: because of thefts, there are voltage fluctuations in the grid, household appliances are out of order, the probability of failures, fires and accidents increases. The company intends to consistently seek compensation for damage by unscrupulous consumers. It should be recalled that the company spends funds collected from energy thieves, including financing of the main production activities, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted power supply to consumers.
