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About-the-House

Electricity theft

It can be dangerous out there. Thank goodness we live in a part of the world where our electrical distribution systems are well planned and safe. That is until people tamper or steal it. Electricity theft is costly and dangerous.

Now I know that there are those that have a beef with smart meters, but when it comes to electricity theft they are very valuable. Basically, with smart meter technology, service providers can measure reported consumption for a particular area. When the usage exceeds reported consumption something is wrong. In my books, saving a single life outweighs the bunk surrounding smart meters. The theft of electricity poses significant dangers to you and your family.

Electricity theft can damage equipment and cause power outages, and it costs everyone in B.C. who is paying for the power they use.

We all know that grow-ops are big business here in B.C. Big business. The home from this article left the owner with a bill of over $150,000 to clean up the mess left behind by the culprits. Many, but not all, incidents of electricity theft in B.C. are related to marijuana growing operations.

The theft of electricity theft can cause power surges and fires. Fires can and do kill. In some cases electricity theft creates situations where more power flows through the lines than is expected. This creates power surges and system failures due to high loads. That means outages in your neighbourhood and a greater possibility of fires and even explosions that our emergency responders attend to when called putting them in harm’s way. In emergency situations, such as fires, electricity needs to be shut off to permit firefighters and other emergency personnel to do their jobs safely. Power lines that have been compromised by theft measures can stay energized even when emergency responders think they’ve been shut off.

Illegal connections to power lines are never safe. Imagine cutting this metal conduit open with a grinder while energized high voltage power cables are millimetres away. Illegal connections are a danger to anyone who may come into contact with them, especially unknowingly young children.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

When you need advice or guidance with DIY home improvement and repairs, Hugh Cairns can help you with the answers.

Home improvements can be rewarding, turn your home into a nicer more comfortable place to live, and increase its value.

Whether you are renovating your kitchen, converting a loft, giving a room a lick of paint or making improvements to your home’s energy efficiency, this column is here to guide you with useful information and key things to remember.

Do you have a renovation question or concern? Please feel free to send Hugh your questions. Contact him through www.subject2homeinspections.com



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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