Summary
An electrician, who set up an illegal meter bypass for a friend's business, shared how the shop burned down shortly after. The electrician warns against meter tampering, which has been rising during tough economic times, because it is dangerous and illegal. Reports of energy theft have increased, causing concern and potential consequences for those involved.
Key Facts
- An electrician set up an illegal meter bypass for a friend's business, which later burned down.
- The electrician warns people not to tamper with meters due to the risk of fires and legal issues.
- Energy theft reports have increased significantly, partly due to economic challenges.
- Tampering with energy meters is illegal and can lead to heavy fines or up to five years in prison.
- Crimestoppers received nearly 13,800 reports of suspected energy theft by early 2023, up from over 7,100 in 2021.
- It's estimated that around 250,000 cases of energy theft go unreported each year, adding costs for energy suppliers.
- In 2024-25, the West Midlands had the highest number of dishonest electricity use reports, followed by Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.
