Rosseti Kuban specialists revealed 1,663 facts of energy theft in the amount of 1,7 billion rubles over the past year in the territory of Krasnodar region and the Republic of Adygeya. The amount of energy stolen exceeded 273 million kilowatt-hours. From January to December 2020, the energy workers succeeded to compensate for 105 million rubles of damage.

Among the methods of theft are both independent illegal interferences in the work of the electricity supply meter – introducing amendments to the metering scheme, use of defective equipment, installation of “charged” electricity supply meters, magnets, and unwarranted connection to electric networks and electricity consumption in the absence of the power supply contract.

All violators are held administratively liable with a fine and compensation of damage. If financial resources are not paid within the prescribed time limits, they are recovered compulsorily in the court.

Unauthorized connection to the networks is an uncontrolled load on energy facilities, which causes a decrease in the reliability of electric power supply to consumers. Besides, unauthorized connection in most cases is performed with gross violations of safety rules and with a health and life risk.

Rosseti Kuban reminds that legislation of the Russian Federation provides for severe penalty in respect of persons who illegally consume electricity. Besides, compensation for damage for electricity theft, the violators are held administratively liable with a payment of fine. Penalty for unwarranted connection to electric networks and unwarranted electrical energy usage is subject to imposition of administrative fine on individuals in the amount of 10-15 thousand rubles; on legal entities in the amount of 100-200 thousand rubles.

The energy workers call upon everyone who has become aware of energy theft cases, unwarranted connection to electric networks, to call by free 24-hour telephone hotline of Rosseti Kuban 8-800-220-0-220 and provide information on such facts (anonymity is guaranteed).