What’s energy theft?
Energy theft is when someone is not paying for their gas or electricity or they’re paying less than they should because their meter has been tampered or bypassed. This tampering stops the meter from recording the true amount of energy being used or bypasses the meter completely.
You can learn more about this here.
Meter tampering is extremely dangerous
Tampering with gas and electrical equipment poses a serious risk to both people and property. Any unsafe actions can easily lead to electrocution, fire or even explosions. Only trained and authorised individuals should complete work on electricity and gas meters.
Tampering with gas or electricity meters isn’t just dangerous, it’s also illegal. Energy theft can lead to a fine or prison sentence.
How to spot energy theft
There are lots of ways a meter can be tampered with. Follow this link to learn how to identify energy theft.
How do I report energy theft?
If you think someone is stealing electricity, gas or both you should contact Stay Energy Safe, where you can notify them anonymously.
There are two ways to get in touch with them;
- Call free on 0800 023 2777. Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Report suspected theft by using the Stay Energy Safe online form.
They'll write a report based on the information you provide and pass it on to the relevant supplier. Every supplier has their own way of dealing with energy theft. If there’s a risk to public safety, the meter may need to be removed or exchanged.
What's the Theft Charter?
The Theft Charter is an industry-wide commitment to supporting customers during the process of investigating and taking action against energy theft. Click this link to learn how we're supporting customers.