Theft of electricity and gas in the UK is a growing problem that inherently has the potential of putting people’s lives at risk as well as supporting consequential criminal activities such as the production of illegal drugs.

Each year a proportion of residential and commercial energy consumers attempt to gain electricity and gas without paying for their use - costs that are ultimately born by all honest paying customers. Critically, this evasive activity often results in crude, home-made and makeshift meter by-passes that often risks the lives of the culprits, their cohabitants, and neighbours. As a Landlord, it is important to stay vigilant around energy theft methods as meter tampering has the potential to cause devastating effects to your property.

Figure 1. Devastating effects seen on a property through a Gas meter tamper. The lives of residents and neighbours lives at put in fatal risk form meter tampering.

Energy Theft holds a significant connection with illegal drugs and organised crime, and in particular cannabis cultivation. Properties which are used for cannabis production often show severe signs of alteration. These can lead properties being seriously structurally compromised if undetected, e.g. major holes in walls and floors, boobytraps and undoubtedly unsafe meter tampers.

Figure 2. Converted domestic property showing significant changes to the structure of the room. Dangerously overloaded electrics can be seen crudely installed throughout the downstairs area.

Energy Theft detected in commercial properties also prove to be a gateway into other more serious crimes/violations ranging from Environmental Health issues to modern day slavery. This is not just about energy theft. The harm caused to the public is not insignificant. 

Energy theft is a significant concern.  The UKRPA in 2015 established that the estimated value of energy theft across Great Britain could be as much as £440 million each year, potentially adding £20 per annum to the estimated cost of a dual fuel energy customer. 

The UKRPA was formed in the late 1990’s to help tackle these concerns.  It now has 21 member organisations who regularly share best practice in the detection, investigation and prosecution of those that steal energy.   Our members are well trained and manage all incidents with the utmost focus on ‘safety first’ principles, whilst having proper regard to their legal obligations and responsibilities towards those households that are considered vulnerable.

The UKRPA believes that energy theft is an abhorrent practice which must be rooted out.  However, this requires a coordinated effort by all the organisations involved, i.e. not just energy companies, but also other agencies such as the police, fire, local authorities, Environmental Health, landlords, and the Crown Prosecution Service. Ultimately, we also need public support to help us with the detection of energy theft as and when it occurs and to immediately report any such incidents they come across. 

The association also developed a Landlord interoperability protocol which was formed following discussions with the larger housing trusts and associations to help improve collaborative working arrangements between the members of the UKRPA and other trusts, associations and organisations in the furtherance of energy theft education, discovery, and action.

The Protocol sets out the working arrangements, point to point operational contacts, service levels and escalation mechanisms that support interoperability with regard to the interaction with a UKRPA member.

Simon Brown of Liverpool Housing Trust, signatory to the Protocol, said:

“Energy theft can kill and our staff and contractors are now fully trained to spot the giveaway signs of energy theft which supports our zero tolerance approach to meter tampering.

The introduction of the protocol demonstrates our commitment to working collaboratively with key partners to detect and report energy theft."

Among the services provided by the UKRPA is an online and telephone fraud reporting service for use by the public. Any member of the public that is concerned about electricity theft can either:

1.    Contact their energy supplier. Details can be found on energy bills; or

2.    Report the theft anonymously using the website www.stayenergysafe.co.uk (managed by Crimestoppers); or

3.    Contact the UK Revenue Protection Association (UKRPA):

o   Call: 0207 090 1070, or

o   Complete the UKRPA online fraud report form.

Further details of how the UKRPA works and what services are offered can be found on the  website: www.UKRPA.co.uk

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