Doubling the fine for those who steal electricity

Electricity determined to be stolen will be charged at twice the current market price.

Those who commit the theft will be required to reimburse the cost of the stolen energy from the time the theft is discovered, as well as cover the administrative costs of identifying it, including electricians, spare parts and other costs.

This proposal was put forward by the network operator DEDDIE to the Energy and Water Regulatory Authority after it became clear that The problem of electricity theft has become more widespreadand the price for theft established in 2017, called the “fine”, today, taking into account the growing intermediary costs, turns out to be lower than the current market tariff.

“The amount owed to a consumer who has committed electricity theft, if discovered, is significantly less than the current cost that an ordinary consumer must pay for electricity. This makes the deterrent and preventive nature of regulating electricity theft ineffective“, states the DEDDIE document submitted to the consultation by ΡΑΑΕΥ.

Offer includes methodology for determining the price at which stolen energy will be chargedbased on current fixed and sliding tariffs, as well as other network fees (ΥΚΩ, ΕΤΜΕΑΡ, δίκτυα). This will allow adjust the “fine” in accordance with the situation on the electricity market.

The price received is doubled in all cases, except for consumers included in the social tariff, for whom the premium is 50%.

Approximately, according to the first half of 2024, the stolen energy will cost from 464 to 520 euros per megawatt-hour for residential and other (professional) consumers respectively, and from 145 to 280 euros for ICT beneficiaries.

The debt due to the theft of electricity is proposed to be repaid in installments as follows:

• Up to 600 euros – one-time payment.
• From 601 euros to 1200 euros – maximum two parts.
• From 1201 euros to 2400 euros – up to four parts.
• From 2401 euros to 4800 euros – up to eight parts.
• From 4800 euros and more – up to twelve parts.

The resulting cost of electricity will be added working hours and administrative costs ranging from 294 to 365 eurosand you will also have to pay the cost of replacing the meter – from 66 to 250 euros.

Interesting figures according to which identified thefts of electricity from household consumers amounted to 54.7% of all identified for the period 2018–2023, and approximately 40% of the total number of unaccounted thefts of electricity for the same period. It was also revealed that energy theft by commercial consumers accounted for 86.7% of all identified thefts for the period 2018–2023.

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