Stealing gas and electricity

molerat

So I am now a suspicious character as I use factual terms in place of emotive rantings, !!!!!! are you on. Unmetered use is a correct term as it covers all forms of loss that is not accounted for via metering. Chanz4 used "revenue leakage" instead of stealing, is he also suspicious. The suppliers are not paying for the theft as it is not going through the meter so why should they bother, the only thing they will be bothered about is unpaid billed accounts as they have to pay the distributors for that energy used.

As for [STRIKE]shoplifting[/STRIKE] stock shrinkage and speaking as a former retail manager, companies do tend to ignore it to some extent as it often costs more to prevent it than the cost of the losses. Yes they may well prosecute if they actually catch someone in the act but they will not install tagging, which is expensive, or employ security staff until the perceived reduction in the level of losses will pay for it, it is not good for the bottom line, simple accounting. The biggest thing that loss prevention were interested in was internal loss as that was easier and cheaper to chase.

moneybags1957

The government and energy companies won't tell you that they also want smart meters to be able to turn off house holds when NOT IF our energy needs exceed that which can be supplied.
Also for those struggling to pay their bills no more need for an entry warrant, just turned off over the mobile phone network, instantly for late payment.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

moneybags1957 wrote: »

The government and energy companies won't tell you that they also want smart meters to be able to turn off house holds when NOT IF our energy needs exceed that which can be supplied.
Also for those struggling to pay their bills no more need for an entry warrant, just turned off over the mobile phone network, instantly for late payment.

If I don't pay my telephone bill, I get cut off.

Why should energy be different? You want to be on the network, pay up like everyone else has to.

Nada666

moneybags1957 wrote: »

Also for those struggling to pay their bills no more need for an entry warrant, just turned off over the mobile phone network, instantly for late payment.

You write that as if it is a bad thing.

molerat

It is not the bad payers that are the problem though, they just don't pay and cutting them off will stop them using any more. It is the by-passers. Bypassing a gas and electricity meter is not rocket science, look at the thickos that manage to do it. To stop them it will take digging holes in the road and physically cutting the supply off away from the premises.

Ich_2

To stop them it will take digging holes in the road and physically cutting the supply off away from the premises.

That is still done, but possibly not often enough!
Certainly any illegally connected cannabis farms we automatically disconnect outside (3 or 4 a week) and the occasional business if they keep reconnecting.
Domestic premises hardly ever as it's not deemed PC to do so

rogerblack

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Before we get all out of shape, let's not forget that transmissions loses in the national grid and local distribution network is about 10% of generated power, all going to heat up the air.

While technically true, to halve this loss would mean (simplistically) doubling the size of all of the wires and transformers in the grid.
With the consequent strengthening of the pylons, ...

It would be interesting to know what actual figure this would be, and the ROI of such an effort.

Cardew

rogerblack wrote: »

While technically true, to halve this loss would mean (simplistically) doubling the size of all of the wires and transformers in the grid.

Not the only way, they could use silver for the wires;)

PollySouthend

Nada666 wrote: »

You write that as if it is a bad thing.

Any you write like its a good thing for someone in financial hardship to be cut off automatically / remotely.

[Deleted User]

molerat wrote: »

It is not the bad payers that are the problem though, they just don't pay and cutting them off will stop them using any more. It is the by-passers. Bypassing a gas and electricity meter is not rocket science, look at the thickos that manage to do it. To stop them it will take digging holes in the road and physically cutting the supply off away from the premises.

Trouble is, a lot of these thickos dont know how to do it. One hundred yards up the road in my own rough street in S.Yorks , ( a methadone addict ) had had a hamfisted attempt to rig his electric prepay as he was a bit short of cash, and managed to set fire to the meter, and luckily not the whole house. Out here in the "Benefits Streets " throughout the UK, word has got round that its OK to bypass and nothing will befall you if you get caught. Thats what my gripes are about really. I m sure if it meant putting on your best suit for a visit to the local Magistrates ( or Crown Court for the big ones ) bypassing would be rare. As the head of BG UK Revenue Protection said on the "Inside Out " tv prog ,its a £500 million pound loss, (or £30 a year, 60 p a week per customer added to the bill)and getting worse. In ten years what will it be like then ?