Power companies try to pull plug on electricity thieves
- Source: Global Times
- [09:14 November 20 2009]
- Comments
An electrician with the electricity supply bureau in Wuhan, Hubei Province inspects a switches. The bureau checked 40,000 households in 2007 and found that 291 were stealing electrical power. Photo: Xinhua
By Guo Qiang
Five gangsters were arrested for stealing electric power by rigging meters in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, the China News Agency reported Wednesday.
"Electricity mice", a euphemism for electricity thieves, used professional and high-tech methods to tamper with electricity meters. Some used U-shape magnets or electric resistance equipment while some tampered with wires and meters to slow down the measurement.
In Zhaoqing, the gangsters helped 1,400 households cheating the power company.
The Zhaoqing Power Supply Bureau said in addition to poor people, many urban households and those who live in well-off areas were also caught stealing power.
"They steal power to gain petty advantages," Lin Peiyan, the bureau press officer, told the Global Times on Thursday.
The bureau found abnormalities with some electric meters about a year ago and launched the investigation. Some 727 households admitted stealing recently after inspections were conducted, the report said.
The offenders are unaware of related laws and regulations, Lin said.
The electricity law stipulates that the administrative department shall order electric energy thieves to pay the electricity fees, as well levy fines that could be up to five times the amount of the fees they steal. In extreme cases, violators could receive a life sentence.
"I said 'yes' when my downstair neighbors advised me to tamper with my meter," said a Zhaoqing resident surnamed Liang.
Zhu Xiaodong, a technician at Beijing Tongzhou Measurement Bureau, told the Global Times that the tactics used by the thieves in Guangdong are sophisticated, and the thieves have knowledge about mechanics and electrical theories.
