Distribuție Oltenia organized a number of 5,233 actions to prevent and combat the phenomenon of illegal connection to the electricity distribution network between April and June 2023. In the 7 counties where Distribuție Oltenia operates, 5,233 places of consumption were checked and 356 cases (or 6.8%) were identified in which there were suspicions of illegal consumption of electricity, divided as follows: Argeș – 55 cases; Dolj – 125 cases; Gorj – 10 cases; Mehedinti – 26 cases; Olt – 67 cases; Teleorman – 51 cases and Vâlcea – 22 cases.

The phenomenon presents a high risk of fires, property damage and loss of human life and has a direct impact on the quality of the electricity supply to consumers. More than 5,233 cases in which there were suspicions of illicit energy consumption were verified between April and June 2023, company officials say.

“Stealing electricity from the low-voltage network represents a risk both for those who connect illegally and for consumers in the vicinity. Any unauthorized intervention, as well as the use of improvised installations, can at any time generate serious accidents or fires, resulting in loss of human life and significant property damage.

”In addition, the fraudulent consumption of energy influences the quality of services, causes voltage variations and interruptions in the supply of electricity, thus causing discomfort, especially for people who consume electricity with legal supply contracts,” they claim.

Stealing energy constitutes the crime of theft and is punishable according to the laws in force.