Orelenergo: theft of power equipment poses a threat to reliable energy supply to consumers

IDGC of Centre - Orelenergo division conducts systematic work on to prevent theft of equipment from energy facilities and non-ferrous metals. This issue is extremely relevant for the enterprise: from the beginning of 2016 there have been seven cases of theft of wires at Orelenergo's facilities. As a result of illegal actions several settlements were de-energized, the company suffered damage of more than 96 thousand rubles. In order to prevent and combat such incidents Orelenergo implemented a series of organizational and technical measures.

The power company keeps a register of sparsely populated villages and sites with seasonal load, where theft is the most probable, identifies and dismantles unused equipment. Chiefs of Distribution Zones meet regularly with precinct police, during which they update the registry data, as well as update information about the actual data on residing customers. At operating power facilities Orelenergo replaces bare wire with self-supporting insulated one (SIW).

One of the most effective measures to identify cases of theft and resist them is raids, involving staff of the security department and employees of Distribution Zones of the enterprise. Data on identified facts of theft are transferred to law enforcement authorities for further investigation, in which representatives of Orelenergo provide them with all necessary assistance.

This work gives a result, allowing to identify and punish thieves. This happened, for example, with thieves, who cut in Dmitrovsky district 160 metres of bare wire in the span between poles of power lines. With regard to the thieves police opened a criminal case under Art. 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (theft), in which the court ruled to recover from them in favour of Orelenergo 220 thousand rubles.

'Theft of power equipment can cause power supply disturbances to residential buildings, industrial plants, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and even entire settlements,' emphasizes the deputy head of the security department Konstantin Avdeenko. We address to residents of the Orel region with a request to report of known to them cases of power equipment theft. This can be done by contacting an operator of your Distribution Zone or district police department, or by calling the toll-free direct line of power engineers at 8-800-50-50-115 or short number 13-50.