Officials Issue Alerts on Electrical Pilferage Risks
Electricality Thieves Behaving Badly, Get Ready for Some Serious Consequences!
💡 Fun fact: Did you know that electricity theft is a no-no according to Russian law? Let's dive into the details!
Yakutskenergo, a part of the RusHydro Group, has bubble-bursting news for those trying to steal juice from their grid without paying. Their power wranglers have cracked down on 127 dishonest consumers since the start of 2025, uncovering a whopping energy theft of over 4.5 million kWh! Ouch!
In an interview, Sergei Fedorov, Deputy Chief Engineer at Yakutskenergo, shed some light on the issue:
So, what's the penalty for playing with fire (or electricity, in this case)? Well, for ordinary citizens, it's a fine of 10–15 thousand rubles, and a bill for the stolen energy and wrecked equipment. Ouch again! For businesses, it's a bigger smackdown: 100–200 thousand rubles and another hefty bill for the electricity pilfered and damaged machinery.
Crime definitely doesn't pay, does it? But there's more. If an offender steals more than 250 thousand rubles' worth of electricity, they might even do some hard time for 5 years under Article 165 of the Russian Criminal Code. So, better think twice before trying to outsmart the system!
💡 Did You Know?- According to Russian law, unauthorized connection to electrical networks or unmetered consumption of electricity leads to fines, with individuals and legal entities holding the purse-strings typically facing penalties of up to 2 million rubles!- Theft of electricity, especially on a large scale, can lead to criminal prosecution under Article 165 of the Criminal Code, with possible consequences including confiscation of equipment, fines, and imprisonment based on the damage caused and the offender’s intent.
In the industry sector, businesses found guilty of unauthorized electricity consumption could face fines of up to 200 thousand rubles and a bill for the stolen energy and damaged machinery. On a broader scale, excessive electricity theft might result in criminal charges under Article 165 of the Russian Criminal Code, potentially leading to confiscation of equipment, hefty fines, and imprisonment based on the damage caused and the offender’s intent.
