Where to turn if your neighbors are stealing electricity?

In accordance with the contract for the provision of electricity, citizens are required to pay a monthly fee for the supply of the resource. Unscrupulous consumers use illegal methods of connecting to someone else’s network, “twisting” meter readings and other methods of theft in order to avoid paying for electricity.

Unauthorized connection to networks entails administrative and criminal liability. You will learn about methods of electricity theft and measures to combat this phenomenon from our article.

Methods for detecting electricity theft

If you suspect that your neighbors are stealing electricity, you need to check it. You can contact an electrician who will reliably establish the fact of theft. The table indicates what a specialist should pay attention to.

Definition by wire

To determine theft, you first need to inspect the meter on the site:

1. There should be two wires going to the meter - phase and zero, which are located first and third. There are also two wires coming from it - phase and neutral are the second and fourth. In order to steal electricity, you need to swap phase and zero on a single-phase meter.
2. There should be no additional wires to the meter.
3. It is necessary to check the presence of seals and their integrity. The readings are considered reliable if the seals are preserved.

Shutdown on the panel

You can run a test to check for third-party connections.
In the panel, you need to turn off the automatic switches, and then use the device to measure the voltage. Reference! If in such a situation the lights continue to be on and there is voltage in the sockets, the neighbors steal electricity. The essence of this method is that in old apartment buildings there are common sockets in the wall. If there are rooms adjacent to neighbors, electricity can be supplied simultaneously to two apartments. If an attacker connects a wire to an outlet, he can consume someone else's electricity.

Neighbors can not only connect the wire to the panel, but also install hidden sockets. They are mounted behind washing machines, refrigerators, stoves.

Grounding check

The neighbor can change the phase and zero in a different way.
The phase is connected to zero. In this case, the zero is turned off and connected to the ground. As a result, the meter stops counting energy consumption. If a neighbor suspects an inspection is coming, he can return everything back. Then the fact of deception will be difficult to detect.

But it will not be possible to hide traces of the act if the meter is located in an apartment building. It must be sealed. In this case, it will not be possible to replace the wires.

Grounding can also be done through the battery riser. The area of ​​the heating device is cleared of paint. Grounding is connected to it. If you check, voltage will be detected on the battery, it will begin to beat with current.

other methods

In houses located in the private sector, electricity can be stolen in another way.
To do this, unscrupulous citizens throw wires coming from the house onto the wires of the pole. You can check for manipulation by turning off the appliances and lights in the house. If the meter continues to spin, but it is working properly, it can be assumed theft.

Qualifying features

If, as a result of an unauthorized connection to a source of electricity, damage was caused on a large or especially large scale, or the connection was carried out by an organized group by prior conspiracy, then the attacker will not be able to “get off” with a small administrative fine. If the criminal act contains qualifying features, the perpetrators will face criminal liability.

Note!

Major damage is an amount of more than 250,000 rubles, especially large damage is 1,000,000 rubles.

Where to report electricity theft?

If you discover a theft, you need to talk to your neighbors.
They can admit their guilt and stop the theft. If these methods do not work, you should follow the instructions:

1. Submit an application to the management company and energy sales.
2. Contact the court, prosecutor's office.

The application to the management company and energy sales is drawn up in any form. It must be accompanied by a certificate issued by an electrician, as well as meter readings. The document should note what appliances are used in the house and how much energy they consume. This way you can compare them with the meter readings.

The Criminal Code sends its specialist to verify the theft. He will draw up a report and take photographs.

Attention! At the time of drawing up the act, it is better to invite witnesses. They can confirm detected violations with signatures.

Can neighbors connect?

Some residents steal electricity from both the service provider and their neighbors - this has been proven by many years of practice. Theft is common not only in apartment buildings, but also in the private sector.

Private sector

Expert opinion

Alexey Petrushin

Lawyer. Specialization: family and housing law.

Electricity theft often occurs by periodically throwing rods onto power lines. This allows the thief to reduce his own expenses when using powerful electrical appliances. The fact of a violation can be detected by visually checking the line, because the method is very risky. Having discovered such a connection, neighbors are unlikely to remain silent, because theft affects the power of the network. As a result of an unauthorized connection, electrical interruptions occur, the lights “blink”, and devices may fail. This situation cannot remain unpunished for long.

Other methods are also used in the private sector (rewinding readings using a powerful transformer, changing the connection diagram). Such violations can only be detected through inspections.

Apartment buildings

In apartment buildings, the problem is much more acute - against the backdrop of rising payments, the number of people wishing to take advantage of “freebies” is only increasing every year, it is quite difficult to identify the fact of a third-party connection without basic knowledge of electrical engineering, and it is almost impossible to prove the guilt of a neighbor without competent legal support. But you shouldn’t give up - you need to solve the problem immediately after it is discovered.

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How to prove and what evidence is needed?

You can confirm the fact of theft using several pieces of evidence:

1. Meters data. It is necessary to indicate the latest data, because the theft of electricity can be periodic, and a neighbor can connect at the moment when the readings are submitted for consideration.
2. Description of assumptions if there is no access to the neighbor's counter. It can be noted in the statement that when the electricity is turned off, current remains in the sockets and voltage interruptions are observed.
3. Photos of broken seals and incorrectly connected wires.

Can neighbors connect?

Some residents steal electricity from both the service provider and their neighbors - this has been proven by many years of practice. Theft is common not only in apartment buildings, but also in the private sector.

Private sector

Expert opinion Dmitry Nosikov Lawyer. Specialization: family and housing law.

Electricity theft often occurs by periodically throwing rods onto power lines. This allows the thief to reduce his own expenses when using powerful electrical appliances. The fact of a violation can be detected by visually checking the line, because the method is very risky. Having discovered such a connection, neighbors are unlikely to remain silent, because theft affects the power of the network. As a result of an unauthorized connection, electrical interruptions occur, the lights “blink”, and devices may fail. This situation cannot remain unpunished for long.

Other methods are also used in the private sector (rewinding readings using a powerful transformer, changing the connection diagram). Such violations can only be detected through inspections.

Apartment buildings

In apartment buildings, the problem is much more acute - against the backdrop of rising payments, the number of people wishing to take advantage of “freebies” is only increasing every year, it is quite difficult to identify the fact of a third-party connection without basic knowledge of electrical engineering, and it is almost impossible to prove the guilt of a neighbor without competent legal support. But you shouldn’t give up - you need to solve the problem immediately after it is discovered.

Accrual and amount of fine

In accordance with Article 9.11 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, the amount of the fine depends on the form of ownership.
After all, a thief can steal not for personal use, but for a commercial purpose. Accordingly, you will have to pay:

• for individuals – from 1,000 to 2,000 rubles;
• officials – from 2,000 to 4,000 rubles;
• individual entrepreneurs - from 2,000 to 4,000 rubles or a restriction of activity for 90 days;
• for legal entities - from 20,000 to 40,000 rubles or suspension of activities for a period of 90 days.

Neighbors can also be forced to pay a fine of 300,000 rubles for deception and breach of trust.

Neighbors steal electricity from a private home

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Questions from our readers

What is the legal threat to an electricity thief?
Since 2022, liability for theft of electricity has been tightened. The amounts of fines in accordance with the norms of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation were discussed above. In addition, it is possible to bring unscrupulous neighbors to criminal liability.

In accordance with Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, when causing damage in the amount of more than 250,000 rubles, if fraudulent actions are detected, the following punishment may occur:

• a fine of 300,000 rubles;
• recovery of official income for 2 years;
• imprisonment for a term of up to 2 years with a fine of 80,000 rubles (or income for six months) or restriction of freedom for a term of up to 1 year.

If your neighbors’ electricity was turned off for non-payment, and they were powered by someone else’s network, then liability will arise under Article 7.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

The punishment will be as follows:

• a fine in the amount of 10,000 to 15,000 rubles (for repeated violations from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles) for individuals;
• a fine of 30,000 to 80,000 rubles and removal from office for up to 2 years (for repeated violations, a fine of 80,000 to 300,000 rubles and removal from office for up to 3 years) for officials;
• a fine of 100,000 to 200,000 rubles (for repeated violations, 200,000 to 300,000 rubles) for legal entities.

List of actions to solve the problem of electricity theft

After discovering the fact of energy theft, a citizen can use a certain sequence of actions.

The algorithm is as follows:

1. collect evidence. This can be materials received in the form of video or photo recording. They need to be collected in advance and used only if the neighbors refuse to resolve the issue by peaceful means;
2. contact your neighbor and ask them to resolve the situation. However, a person does not always admit his guilt and tries to shift it onto another person. If a citizen does not want to spoil relations with those who live in the neighborhood, he needs to look for peaceful ways to solve the problem;
3. draw up and submit an application to the authorized body. Documents confirming the citizen’s position are attached to it;
4. formulate a violation report. This is done by employees of the energy sales or management company in the presence of the applicant;
5. submit the document for consideration by a judicial authority or prosecutor's office.

There is no single application form established by law, so a free form can be used. As a result of reviewing the document, penalties may be applied to the violator. In addition, depending on the damage caused, punishment can be expressed in the form of community service, restriction of freedom, or imprisonment.

Let us give the following example from judicial practice . According to the Decision of the Dorogomilovsky District Court of Moscow No. 2-3689/2021 dated October 18, 2021, citizen E. was found guilty of illegally connecting neighbor P. to the electrical networks. As a result of the consideration of the case, a fine of 50,000 rubles was imposed on E.

Thus, if your neighbors are stealing electricity, you need to collect evidence. If the conflict cannot be resolved peacefully, you will have to turn to the resource supply organization or court.

Underwater rocks

Various difficulties may arise during the process:

1. Proving your neighbors' guilt is not always easy. If the neighbors hire a lawyer, he can stop the proceedings by proving, for example, that the seal was damaged by hooligans.
2. A neighbor can eliminate traces of electricity theft, so it will not be possible to prove this fact. It is important to gather evidence in advance.
3. Difficulties may arise with drawing up an application to the Criminal Code, energy sales, as well as the prosecutor's office and the court. Legal assistance may be required.

Arbitrage practice

Independent actions to resolve a conflict with a neighbor who steals electricity are also not recommended. The situation is guaranteed to be fraught with conflict.

Example. A Ukrainian who stole electricity shot his neighbors who confronted him about it. The man opened fire from a machine gun at the neighbors, who were compensated by tapping into the communal metering device. Previously, the criminal's access to electricity was blocked for a large debt for housing and communal services. As a result, several neighbors were injured. The culprit was not registered at a psychoneurological dispensary and did not have mental illnesses. The cause of the conflict was the use of electricity for personal purposes on a common house meter.

Therefore, it is necessary to involve specialized bodies and solve the problem within the legal framework. After drawing up the act, the document must be sent to Energonadzor.

Then ask for a recalculation of payments for electricity. This requirement can only be used if you pay for your electricity in full.

If the authorized body refuses to carry out recalculation, it is necessary to go to court.

Otherwise, if you cannot prove this fact in court, your neighbor will be able to recover an amount of moral damages from you.

Example. Citizen R. filed a lawsuit demanding compensation for moral damages from her neighbor. A man said at a meeting of owners that his neighbor was stealing his electricity. But when going to court, the fact was not proven. The woman demanded that a notice be printed for each resident of the entrance stating that she was not to blame. And also pay 10,000 rubles. as a compensation. The court satisfied her demands.

Let us assume that judicial practice on this issue is not isolated.

The theft of electricity in the Russian Federation is widespread. It doesn’t matter whether the neighbor connected to your meter or the common one. You bear the costs all the time. If a case of theft is revealed, everything must be formalized within the legal framework. Don't argue with your neighbor. Just describe the problem in the contact form on our website and the lawyer on duty will suggest a civilized way to resolve the conflict.

What are we paying for?

Therefore, the difference is divided among everyone.

Why is this happening? There are apartments in the buildings without meters where no one is registered. However, people usually still live in them (as a rule, tenants), who naturally consume water. In receipts they are shown zero consumption.

If there is only one such apartment in the house, then this may not be noticed, but if there are 20? Magnets, magnets. So we received 600 cubic meters of one at our house - it’s like, all magnets. I can’t believe it. It turned out to be more than 5 cubic meters for each apartment, here are the magnets with the tenants - This is a whole reservoir, and in 2 months or 3, no one thinks about it, even those who steal these cubes.