Energy Suppliers Urged To Tackle Thefts

More needs to be done to tackle electricity theft, the energy regulator has said.

Ofgem has said the theft of energy, a third of which they claim is being used to run cannabis farms, costs customers some £200m a year.

The regulator has published a number of proposals, urging suppliers to detect and investigate problems, or face a fine.

The new proposals include:

• Setting up an industry code of practice governing how theft investigations

should be carried out to ensure there is a consistent approach across the

industry

• Coordinating efforts to tackle theft relating to cannabis farms with other

agencies such as the Home Office and local police forces

• Sharing best practice across industry about how cases of theft have been

identified.

With an estimated 25,000 cases of energy theft a year, suppliers are being asked to establish a national theft-risk assessment service. It is hoped this will help them target premises suspected of stealing electricity.

Andrew Wright, Ofgem Chief Executive, said: "Ofgem wants to make sure that consumers are paying no more than they need to for their electricity, and lives are not put at risk. It's critical that suppliers do all they can to clamp down on electricity theft. This is why Ofgem is introducing new rules to encourage better theft detection.

"The reforms build on similar obligations we introduced at the start of this year for suppliers to address gas theft more vigorously. All these measures will help to improve the confidence of consumers, who want reassurance that the energy market is fair."

(MH/JP)