Do we need an energy theft amnesty?
Mary-Anne Bowring 27/08/2019
899
The Cost of Tampered Meters
According to Ofgem, tampered energy meters add £20 to every household bill annually. Beyond financial costs, they pose life-threatening dangers to personal and public safety.
Proposed Energy Theft Amnesty
Ofgem is considering an energy theft amnesty, allowing individuals—including landlords, tenants, and property professionals—to confess to tampering with energy meters without facing prosecution or backdated charges. The goal is to make tampered meters safe while providing a risk-free way for offenders to come forward.
The Severity of Energy Theft
- Energy theft is a serious crime often committed by rogue landlords or tenants.
- At least one person in the UK is injured or killed every fortnight due to tampered meters.
- The usual sentence for energy theft is five years in prison.
- Ofgem surveyed 1,000 people, and over half supported the idea of an amnesty.
Benefits and Drawbacks of an Amnesty
- Improved Safety: Tampered meters can cause fires, electric shocks, and gas explosions. Making them safe would protect communities.
- Reduced Costs: Each household pays an extra £20 per year to cover stolen energy. Correcting tampered meters could lower this cost.
- Devaluing the Crime: Offenders would escape prosecution, potentially encouraging others to break the law.
- High Costs for Energy Companies: Visiting thousands of homes to make meters safe could be expensive and may not prevent reoffending.
Need for Awareness and Next Steps
- Echo Managed Services and Grosvenor Services Group, which conducted the research, believe the dangers of energy theft are not well understood. They suggest the energy sector needs to better educate the public on the risks of tampering with meters.
- Ofgem will evaluate the pros and cons of the proposed amnesty in the coming months.
Key Takeaway
Anyone considering tampering with an energy meter should reconsider. It’s illegal, dangerous, and puts lives at risk.
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