Electrical fraud and its risks
On this page, we explain what electricity fraud is, the risks it poses to people and the economy, and how we work to detect and combat it.
What is electricity fraud?
Electricity fraud consists of illegally altering an electrical installation to partially or fully reduce the amount paid for the energy consumed. Ultimately, it is stealing energy.
It is detrimental to everyone: the people who live or work near a tampered installation, the consumers who do pay for their energy, and society as a whole.
Risks to people
Electricity fraud is especially dangerous because altered installations do not comply with safety regulations. This increases the risk of:
- electrocution
- fires in homes, warehouses, or garages
- serious injuries or loss of life
The risk does not just affect the consumer committing the fraud. It also endangers other people in the vicinity and the technicians working on these installations, who are unaware they have been tampered with.
In recent years, electricity fraud has been behind a growing number of fires in homes and commercial premises that have caused injuries and even fatalities.
Economic effects of fraud
Electricity fraud has economic consequences that go far beyond the fraudster:
- It raises bills for all consumers. Stolen energy is considered an additional cost to the national electricity system, which ends up being passed on to the bills of those who do pay.
- It damages competition between companies. The fraudster reduces their energy costs and can offer lower prices, which disadvantages those competing with them honestly.
- It reduces tax revenue. Unbilled energy generates tax that the State misses out on.
- It is frequently linked to other criminal activities, such as drug trafficking or illegal squatting.