Where electric pilferages are usually practiced and applied?
Energy theft or pilferage is one of the common causes of non-technical loss in any electric distribution utility. These pilferages are the losses that are not caused by the electrical characteristics of the system rather it is the result of the intentional attempt to harness power for free. For detailed discussion regarding the non-technical losses, you can always look back to the previous topics.
Although pilfering electricity is a criminal case once proven and persecuted, a number of individual still attempts to commit such felony thinking they could get away with it. In an electric utility, these pilferages are usually found in the consumer side of the network where it is easier and safer to steal electric power.
It is a common perception that these criminal activities (electrical pilferages) are committed in slump areas like ghettos where the lowest class of the society resides. However, this is not always the case, some prominent families and business establishments are also involved in this kind of act knowing the fact that their current status can afford such privileges.
The typical location in the consumer side of the network where pilferage usually occurs can be categorized into three different locations; the line-side connection, the load-side connection and the service-facility location. Discussed below are definition of each location however, we would no longer be discussing the detailed methods of pilfering since this article does not promote the said act and it is absolutely illegal.
LINE SIDE CONNECTION – the point where electric service terminates before electricity is made to pass through the electric kilowatt-hour meter. Typical pilferages that are applied in this location are direct-tapping, jumpering, bypassing and other means of diverting the flow of electricity from the meter.
LOAD SIDE CONNECTION – as the name implies, this pilferage is the part done after the meter. Although we can say that it is highly unlikely to steal power from here since the electricity used here are already accounted by the meter, there are still some other means of pilfering like half-registering the meter by getting other sources of electricity.
SERVICE FACILITY ALTERATION – this pertains to the device or set of devices used to read and record electric consumption. Meters and instrument transformers are usually the one that are tampered in this location. Meters can be altered by adjusting its accuracy and instrument transformers can be tampered by tweaking its connection for the purpose of intentionally altering its registration to the meter.
The method of stealing electricity varies significantly depending on which location it is applied to. The only limit for these methods is the imagination of the theft involve in the said act. Regardless on which location it is done, it still remains unlawful to do such crime where the person involved could face a penalty of monetary equivalent or worse could him/her in prison.
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