Electricity Theft Costs for More than Just the Electric Company – from Guest Author Daniela Baker, CreditDonkey.com
May 4, 2011
Electricity theft has been a problem for electric companies for decades. In fact, according to Electric Light & Power magazine, electricity thieves have caused a loss of revenue totaling about $6 billion industry wide each year. But what many Americans do not know is that electricity theft hurts more than just the electricity company it also hurts our neighbors.
Some people resort to stealing electricity when they fall short on funds. Some start to cut out the extras from their life but they find that there just isn’t enough money to pay all the bills. Others even steal electricity for illegal marijuana operations where they are growing pot plants inside homes and do not want to raise suspicion by their enormous amount of electricity usage.
No matter the reason for stealing the electricity, many thieves justify their actions by claiming they aren’t doing any harm. They assume that their use of the resources for free is just causing a very slight decrease in the profits of huge electricity giants. Unfortunately, they are wrong. Electricity theft can cause financial and physical harm to the other consumers who live in their area. Financial harm to consumers living in the area happens because electricity companies and transmission and distribution utilities still have to cover the cost of the electricity that is stolen. Often, this means the cost is offset by rate increases applied to all customers. Essentially, by illegally getting energy for free, people are pushing their problems onto their friends, family, coworkers and neighbors.
Even worse is the physical harm that electricity theft has been known to cause. Thieves receive their electricity for free by messing with the meters which are typically right next to their home. The people who do this, more often than not, are novices and have not received the proper training nor have the proper equipment. They can be electrocuted or burned if they are not careful. If the rerouting of power is done incorrectly, it can also shock an innocent passerby. In other incidents, energy thieves have caused fires in residential areas. This could cause many families to lose their homes and their possessions. If the thieves are located near a field or forest, the fire could potentially spread to a much greater area causing even more damage.
People who steal their energy often aren’t looking to harm the greater community, usually they’re simply looking for something for free. However, beyond potential financial and physical impact discussed above, these consumers could also be subject to criminal prosecution. In Texas, these electricity thieves could be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor or even a felony, depending on how much electricity was stolen. Consumers who steal their electricity need to think twice before committing the crime. The potential costs are much greater than they realize.
Thankfully, there are other options available. Consumers looking to save on their energy bill don’t have to resort to stealing. Pay your electricity bill with a cash back credit card instead of your checkbook and get electricity service from a provider that rewards on-time payments. The Bounce Energy Rewards Program, for example, offers bill credits, free movie tickets, gift cards, and even a free month of electricity simply for paying your bills on-time. So, you could by using your rewards earning credit card and electricity service provider, you could be earning double the rewards.
Guest Author: Daniela Baker, CreditDonkey
At work, Daniela is from CreditDonkey helps consumers and entrepreneurs choose between all the credit card options available. At home as an energy conscious mom, she’s concerned about her impact on the earth and the legacy it leaves behind for her children.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog/article are those of the guest writer, not necessary the opinion of Bounce Energy. For more information on being a guest writer for Bounce Energy, please email us at web@bounceenergy.com.
Comments (2)
It is a shame that people are resorting to stealing electricity, although there is nothing new about it. This has been going on for decades. Bryant Electric Service encourages all users of electricity to conserve their energy use, and we support alternative means of producing electricity such as solar and wind energy. In time and with other sources of power becoming more popular, our hope is that no one will have to resort to stealing this very necessary commodity.
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