Over 660 cases of potential fraudulent consumption of energy were identified in the first 6 months of this year in 18 of the 20 counties in which the distribution company Delgaz Grid operates, most of them involving electricity theft. The damage generated by these practices amounts to almost 8.5 million lei, and the total amount of stolen energy is about 9.9 million kWh.

Thus, 397 cases represent electricity theft, these being identified in the Moldova region (counties of Iași, Botoșani, Vaslui, Suceava, Neamț and Bacău). Also, 265 cases were registered on the gas side in 18 counties (Cluj, Bistrița-Năsăud, Maramureș, Sălaj, Timiș, Arad, Caraș-Severin, Hunedoara, Mureș, Sibiu, Alba, Bihor, Iași, Botoșani, Vaslui, Suceava, Neamț and Bacău).

The total amount of energy stolen is about 9.9 million kWh (about 3.8 million kWh of natural gas and 6.1 million kWh of electricity), and the value of the damage was calculated at about 8.5 million lei.

The stolen amount could cover the natural gas consumption for about 4-5 years and the electricity consumption for 30 years of an educational institution with 275 students and teachers.

Reducing the value of the energy bill by avoiding the recording of actual consumption is not a solution for consumers because the consequences of explosions or fires far exceed the amounts thus “saved”. In order to maintain safety, it is very important to prevent energy theft by identifying them as close as possible to the moment they occur.

Fraudulent consumption generates losses not only for the distribution operator but also for honest consumers, who regularly pay the equivalent value of the energy consumed, illegal interventions also affecting the quality of the natural gas and electricity distribution service.

At the same time, fraudulent consumption represents a form of theft and is sanctioned according to the provisions of the Penal Code. In order to identify the responsible persons and recover the damage, the distribution operator formulates and sends criminal complaints to the competent institutions.

Delgaz Grid, the distribution company of the German E.ON Group, operates a 26,000 km natural gas network in 20 counties in the North and West of Romania (Cluj, Bistrița-Năsăud, Maramureș, Satu Mare, Sălaj, Timiș, Arad, Bihor, Caraș-Severin, Hunedoara, Mureș, Sibiu, Alba, Harghita, Iași, Botoșani, Vaslui, Suceava, Neamț and Bacău) and an electricity network of approximately 82,000 km in six counties in Moldova: Bacău, Botoșani, Iași, Neamț, Suceava and Vaslui, serving 3.6 million customers. Since entering the local market in 2005, E.ON has invested 2.4 billion euros mainly to modernize natural gas and electricity networks and has transferred 3.8 billion euros in taxes and fees to the state.

Article distributed with the support of  Schneider Electric