Hotline of power engineering specialists:
IDGC of Centre summed up the implementation of measures to identify and suppress non-metered and non-contractual electricity consumption in 2018.
In the course of large-scale raid work carried out by personnel of Distribution Zones and electricity metering offices of the company’s branches, including jointly with specialists of the security unit, more than 6.9 thousand cases of electricity theft were identified in the service area of IDGC of Centre (11 subjects of the Central Federal District) totalling 160.5 million kWh. The damage amounted to 499 million rubles.
Particular attention during the raids was paid to working with consumers who had already been previously accused of energy stealing. Their check was preceded by thorough preparation and instructing of raid participants by specialists of security units. As part of the operational search activities, in some cases, employees of regional departments of the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia were involved in the raids.
The power engineers take measures to compensate for the damage. In respect of violators who have not done it voluntarily, court decisions are taken on recovery. For the rest of the facts claim work continues.
In addition, the applicant’s materials on the facts of unauthorized consumption of electricity, identified by the security unit of IDGC of Centre, were sent to law enforcement agencies. According to the results of their consideration, criminal cases were initiated on the grounds of the elements of the offense, provided for by paragraph “b” of Part 2 of Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“infliction of property damage to the owner of the property by abuse of trust in the absence of signs of theft, causing especially large-scale damage”).
One of the largest thefts was found in the Lipetsk region. Employees of the branch “Lipetskenergo” during the check noticed that one of the local enterprises engaged in the extraction of limestone significantly reduced electricity consumption. As it turned out, in the mine for a long time the metering device was faulty. Under the terms of the contract, the company should immediately notify power engineers of the malfunction, but did not do this, although it was impossible not to notice a significant difference in the meter readings. According to estimates, the volume of non-metered consumption amounted to 2.4 million kWh, which is equivalent to 18 million rubles. The entire amount was returned to productive supply. A lawsuit was filed to law enforcement agencies.
Employees of the Kursk branch of IDGC of Centre in August 2018 revealed the fact of illegal connection to the power grids by one of the regional fisheries. The damage amounted to more than 9 million rubles, the case for its compensation is currently being considered in the arbitration court.
At once several large-scale thefts of electricity were revealed by specialists from the branch “Tambovenergo”. In October last year, during a scheduled inspection of one of the enterprises of Tambovsky district of the Tambov region, they revealed interference in the operation of the metering device, which led to a distortion of data on the amount of electricity consumed. The damage amounted to more than 9 million rubles. An act of a similar violation was drawn up in relation to the owner of an asphalt plant located in the same area - in this case the amount of damage exceeded 10 million rubles. An application was filed to the Department of Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tambovsky district to bring the perpetrators to justice.
IDGC of Centre reminds that the legislation provides for severe punishment in relation to energy thieves. In case of detection of theft of electricity, the violator not only compensates for the damage to the electric grid company, but also is brought to criminal or administrative liability with the payment of a fine. It should be noted that since 1 January 2016, administrative responsibility for power theft has been tightened in Russia. In particular, the size of fines for unauthorized connection and use of electricity was increased.
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.
IDGC of Centre intends to consistently seek compensation for damage by unscrupulous consumers. It should be recalled that the company spends funds collected from energy thieves, including, to finance the main production activities, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted power supply to consumers.
