Hotline of power engineering specialists:
IDGC of Centre - Kurskenergo division continues systemic work to identify facts of non-metered and non-contractual electricity consumption. One of the most effective measures are raids, in which workers from Distribution Zones, specialists of the electricity metering and security departments of the branch participate. For 11 months of 2017, as a result of the raid work, 442 facts of non-metered and non-contractual electricity consumption totalling more than 8.7 million kW/h were revealed. The amount of damages exceeded 24 million rubles.
Kurskenergo took measures to recover damages. To date, more than 8 million rubles have already been collected from unscrupulous consumers, the remaining amount is being recovered through claims and litigation work.
In addition, the applicant’s materials on the facts of unauthorized electricity consumption, identified by the specialists of the security unit of Kurskenergo, were sent to law enforcement bodies. Based on the results of consideration of one of the applications, the investigative department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Kursky district of the Kursk region instituted criminal proceedings on the grounds of the offense under Art. 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("causing property damage to the property owner through the abuse of confidence in the absence of signs of embezzlement and causing particularly large damages") in relation to unidentified persons who, using the magnetic effect on the metering device installed at LLC "Cheese Valley", consumed non-metered electricity, causing with their actions damage to Kurskenergo in an especially large amount of more than 1.8 million rubles. Investigative actions in this case continue.
Also, law enforcement agencies, based on materials provided by Kurskenergo, conducted a check of the management of Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Kurchatov District Housing and Utilities", which owed the energy company more than 1.5 million rubles. The Kurchatov Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office found violations under p.1 Art. 539, p.1. Art. 544 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation with regard to the customer’s obligation to pay for the energy received in accordance with the data of the metering devices and made a remedial action order to eliminate the admitted violations of the legislation by Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Kurchatov District Housing and Utilities".
Kurskenergo reminds that the legislation provides for a strict punishment in respect of energy thieves. In case of detection of electricity theft, the violator not only compensates for the damage to the power grid company, but is also brought to criminal or administrative responsibility with payment of a fine. It should be noted that since 1 January 2016, Russia has tightened administrative responsibility for unauthorized connection to grids and use of electricity, as well as violation of the rules for the use of electricity and rules for the construction and operation of energy-consuming plants. In particular, the amount of fines for unauthorized connection and use of electricity has been increased.
Bona fide consumers, who regularly pay bills for electricity, suffer greatly from criminal acts of violators: because of the thefts there are voltage fluctuations in the grid, household appliances are out of order, the probability of failures, fires and accidents increases.
The power engineers intend to continue to seek compensation from the unscrupulous consumers for the damage caused. It should be recalled that the funds the branch recovers from the energy thieves, spends, among other things, to finance activities that ensure reliable and uninterrupted power supply to consumers in the region.
