MRSK Tsentra PAO : In 2015 Kostromaenergo revealed the theft of electricity, totalling about 8 million kWh

IDGC of Centre - Kostromaenergo division summed up the work on combating non-metered and non-contractual power consumption for 2015. During this period power engineers revealed the theft, totalling around 7.9 million kWh, and made up 351 non-contractual and 441 non-metered electricity consumption acts.

One of the most effective methods to identify cases of energy theft is raids, conducted on a monthly basis by specialists of Kostromaenergo in conjunction with law enforcement officials. Since the beginning of this year have raids have already been held in all districts of the Kostroma region, 12 offenders were brought to administrative responsibility. The biggest number of reported violations is related to different ways of impact on metering devices, breaking the seal of an electricity meter, replacing a metering device without notifying employees of the branch, not reporting on the metering device disorder, connecting power installations bypassing the meter and connecting to power grids without concluding with a contract with a sales company.

Theft of electricity, in addition to the punishment provided for by the legislation, is fraught with other risks. Firstly, grid connection bypassing the grid company, made in an 'artisanal' way can lead to disturbances in the grid equipment and electrical shock. Secondly, additional non-metered load on the grid leads to voltage drops and damage to appliances and reduced energy supply reliability.

Conscientious consumers can help the power company to solve these problems, reporting possible facts of theft to the grid company by the around the clock straight phone line at 8800 50 50 115.