The matter in summary: The grid companies detect attempts at electricity theft more often thanks to new electricity meters. Electricity theft is an illegal act that primarily affects other private individuals, not the electricity companies. The network company Lede has found electricity equivalent to an annual consumption of two million kilowatt hours, which is not measured. Controls must now reveal how much power theft there actually is, and the network companies are well underway in uncovering the extent of power theft. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. As is well known, electricity prices have skyrocketed in recent years, and many are doing their bit to save where they can. Some go too far. Way too far. Get notification of errors – There are both creative attempts and misconnections, says Ole Magnus Fevang with relief. The meter fitter from the network company Lede has the task of looking for electricity in detours. The stations he controls show how much electricity is going out. The fuse box in each house in turn tells how much is used. POWER THIEVES: This station in Porsgrunn tells how much power is sent out, says meter fitter Ole Magnus Fevang. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news Sometimes he and his colleagues discover that the numbers do not add up. – Unfortunately, we do. Everything must be done by approved electricians. There is a great risk of fire associated with doing things on your own. You must not keep doing that, says Fevang. However, the actual hunt for faulty connections has become easier. New meters notify the companies when electricity disappears from the grid. When deviations are detected, the inspectors go out to check. In this way, the electricity is corrected, and the home owner is invoiced. When deliberate attempts at power theft are discovered, the matter is always reported. Used an extension cord from the cabin – stole electricity for 35,000 In 2023 alone, Lede reported 13 cases related to electricity theft. The Norwegian Police Directorate does not have its own figures on how many people have been reported for theft of electricity in Norway in recent years, as this falls under theft. However, there are several examples of cases that have ended up in court. Some of them more creative than others. It was difficult to discover the wire, which was hidden in the terrain between the cabin and the power pole in the forest. Dangerous to life and flammable, was the conclusion in court. Photo: Privat A man in his fifties was exposed when he stole electricity from Rakkestad Energi. He had simply connected to the mains with an extension cord from the cabin. In total, almost NOK 35,000 worth of electricity is said to have been stolen. In the judgment from Søndre Østfold district court, first reported by the local newspaper Smaalene, emphasis is also placed on the fact that the action entailed a risk of both personal injury and forest fire. The power thief was sentenced to 30 days in prison with conditional probation for two years. He also had to pay 35,000 to the electricity company and cover court costs. Photo: Benjamin Vorland Andersrød / news Strømtyven was sentenced to 30 days in prison in June. He also had to make up for the electricity he had stolen. Illegal act If you steal electricity, it is primarily other private individuals that are affected. Not the electricity companies, says Eli Aakre. She is a department manager at the online company Lede. – It is an illegal act, and leads to the costs being distributed among others. Eli Aakre is head of delivery quality and settlement at the network company Lede. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / NRKE Eli Aakre is head of the department delivery quality and settlement at the network company Lede. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news Based on how big the electricity company’s costs are, NVE gives permission to collect x number of kroner from the customers. If someone steals electricity, the extra cost is thus passed on to the other customers. – Unfair, she states. Renewable Norway represents, among other things, the grid companies in Norway. Kristin H. Lind, director of power grids and emergency preparedness at Fornybar Norge. Photo: Caroline Roka They feel that the new meters contribute to a decrease in the number of thefts. That’s what Kristin H. Lind, director of power grids and emergency preparedness in the organisation, says. She nevertheless emphasizes that power theft is unacceptable. – Those who steal electricity ultimately steal from their neighbours, she says. Equivalent to an annual consumption Only last year and so far this year, the network company Lede has found electricity equivalent to an annual consumption of 2 million kilowatt hours, which is not measured. There are errors in equipment, incorrect installation by electricians, and deliberate power theft. The white wires at the back of the cabinet drain power to the heating cables before it passes through the meter. This is incendiary and illegal, and an example of what the internet companies are after. Photo: Skagerak Energi Control will now show how much power theft there actually is. – We have now got the tools to discover this, and we are well underway in uncovering the extent, says Aakre.
ttn-69
Man in his fifties stole electricity with an extension cord – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
