Bypassing your electric meter to avoid paying your bills is electricity theft. This is a serious crime with severe consequences, including prison sentences and fines.
Electricity theft has an impact on everyone, from increased energy bills to fires caused by exposed wires and connections.
Because tampering with or bypassing a meter is so dangerous, it’s important that any suspected energy theft is reported to prevent tragic human consequences.
Electricity Theft
Electricity theft is not a victimless crime; it puts the people you love in danger. For more information about electricity theft, tips on how to avoid, and real-life stories click here.
What Is Electricity Theft?
Electricity theft means tampering with an electric meter so that it doesn’t accurately record the amount of electricity being used. Individuals try to bypass their meter completely so that it doesn’t record any electricity usage at all.
People commit electricity theft for a range of reasons, whether it’s to avoid paying their bills, to help loved ones cope with energy costs - or to supply large amounts of electricity to illegal cannabis farms.
Whatever those reasons are, stealing electricity is illegal and is punishable in both criminal and civil courts.
What Is the Punishment for Stealing Electricity?
Individuals who tamper with their meter are committing a criminal offence. If caught they are subject to a number of punishments depending on the severity of the crime.
If an individual is suspected of electricity theft, they will initially be contacted by an industry expert who will investigate. If the expert identifies electricity theft, then they will have the authority to immediately turn off the power at the premises. The Supplier or Network Operators will ensure the cost of the electricity will be recovered from the individual responsible’
Failure to comply means that the individual may face criminal charges, including substantial fines and custodial sentences with a maximum of five years in prison.
What Is the Real Cost of Stealing Electricity?
When an individual illegally tampers with their meter, it means they aren’t paying their fair share. It is estimated that energy theft costs all of us up to £1.4m a year, but this is not the biggest cost of electricity theft.
The biggest cost is the risks to a human life. Anyone who engages in electricity theft is putting those around them in danger.
For instance, this son in Scotland who tried to save money ended up causing his mother’s death as his bypassed electricity meter caused an electrical fire.
Anyone tempted to tamper with a meter to get ‘free electricity’ should consider the danger that they are putting others in and the consequences they could face as a result. Is it really worth the risk?
How To Report Energy Theft
The Stay Energy Safe service is a hub where individuals can easily and anonymously report their suspicions online or over the phone.
Click the form here to report electricity theft or call 0800 023 2777. Whether you call or use the online form, both methods are available 24/7, and both are completely anonymous.
When reporting electricity theft, it’s important to give as much information as possible as this will make it easier for investigators to follow up your concerns. Even if you don’t know the exact details, we’d still like to hear what you know. When people provide us with information on local crimes, we can develop a better understanding of the patterns of behaviour. This will allow us to identify electricity theft. So, if you suspect energy theft, do your part today and tell us.
Stay Energy Safe is a completely independent service, run on behalf of the energy industry by Crimestoppers Trust. Read more about how we protect your details here.