Responsibility and penalty for unauthorized connection of electricity

Some citizens consider the failure to pay utility bills as proof of their resourcefulness and ingenuity. They do not recognize debts for light, water and heat and do not pay them for months. Utilities are struggling with them in every possible way with varying success.

However, not all non-payers understand that for untimely payments they may be deprived of their usual benefits. Heat supply and common risers with water is quite difficult to block. And you can turn off the house or apartment in a few minutes.

But debtors here find a way out of the situation. They connect to the power grid illegally and actually steal electricity.

For such activity, the defaulter may be punished. The penalty for unauthorized connection of electricity will significantly hit your pocket. And in the future, the debtor will behave more prudently.

Unauthorized power connection

The penalty for unauthorized connection of electricity in an apartment or house is a powerful argument motivating to stay within the law. It should be understood that any independent intervention in the functioning of the network of wires is strictly prohibited. And it's not even the fact of theft. Power grids are a source of high danger. If you interfere in their work without appropriate knowledge and access, you can harm yourself and strangers.

You can use electricity only legally, after concluding an agreement with the supplier company.

As a rule, a fine for an unauthorized connection of electricity can be threatened in the following cases:

• Uncontrolled use of energy. Previously, this phenomenon took place, and the calculations were carried out according to average indicators. At the moment, consumers should be connected only through the meter (meter).
• Connecting to the wires yourself, bypassing the contract.

Both types of violations lead to the fact that the consumer uses energy for free, without the knowledge of the service organization.

Types of Violations

Consumers of the resource are responsible for the use of energy not according to the rules in accordance with the provisions of Art. 7.19 Administrative Code of the Russian Federation. According to the Code of Administrative Offenses, you can get a fine for unauthorized connection of electricity and for the use of resources without taking into account. Typically, the following types of violations are identified:

1. The use of special devices that affect the readings of the electric meter. They either make him reduce real consumption, or stop his work, or make him "wind" in the opposite direction.
2. Change the design of the counter. This is a controlled meter, which must be sealed before starting. Failure of the seal and any impact, even for the purpose of harmless repair, is considered an offense.
3. Connecting the line directly, not through the meter.
4. The consumer did not inform the supplier company that the electric meter is not working and does not fulfill its function.
5. Resource consumption without a contract.

How is an offense detected?

Sometimes defaulters are not afraid of a potential fine for unauthorized connection of electricity after a blackout for a debt. They do not pay for the resource for several months, then they are deprived of energy. But debtors restore power supply almost immediately, since they believe that no one can catch them by the hand.

In fact, identifying the intruder is quite simple. Representatives of the energy company regularly make a detour of the territory under their jurisdiction. This happens 1-2 times a year. Specialists check the availability of the meter and seals on it, readings.Their unreasonable reduction indicates that the device has undergone modifications.

Debtors on the site pay special attention. They are checked more often, and after the housing is de-energized, a verification check may come in a few days. If the non-payer has already restored power, then he will face another fine for unauthorized connection of electricity.

Employees of the supplier company do not issue a fine themselves. They only draw up an act on the revealed violation and submit it to law enforcement agencies, as a rule, to the district police. Then they are issued a protocol on the commission of illegal actions. There is no single sample act, it is usually its own in each company, or it is written in any form.

The protocol on the composition of the offense is submitted to the judicial authorities, which will make a decision and determine the measure of punishment.

Penalties

What is the penalty for unauthorized connection of electricity provided by law? It depends on the status of the citizen who committed the offense. The penalty for unauthorized connection of electricity will be as follows:

• 10-15 thousand rubles - for individuals, that is, for ordinary citizens;
• 30-80 thousand rubles - for officials who either illegally connected themselves or issued an appropriate order and forced their subordinates to do so;
• 100-200 thousand rubles. - for legal entities (companies).

Such a punishment will be only if the offense does not have signs of a criminal offense. In addition, officials convicted of this act may be suspended from their duties (posts) for 1-2 years.

However, one should not think that such offenses fall within the scope of the Code of Administrative Offenses only. Judicial authorities may see signs of theft in the actions of the perpetrator. And this will already be considered a criminal offense, and the offender will be punished under Art. 158 of the Criminal Code.

In addition to the assigned amount of the fine for unauthorized connection of electricity, a citizen will have to pay losses to the supplier company. That is, in fact, pay the cost of energy for the entire period of illegal use. Judicial practice shows that the offender is charged with the probable consumption of electricity at the maximum and at the highest tariffs.

Worst case outcome

If the violation from the administrative is reclassified as criminal, the offender is in serious trouble. According to Art. 165 of the Criminal Code, the punishment may be as follows:

1. If the judicial authorities establish that unauthorized use of energy has caused significant damage to the supplier company (over 5 thousand rubles), then the criminal will face a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles. Or imprisonment for 1.5 years.
2. In a separate type of crime, I single out causing damage on an especially large scale. We are talking about amounts over 1 million rubles. In this case, the offender can be punished with forced labor (up to 5 years), imprisonment (up to 2 years), or a fine in the amount of six months earnings with restriction of freedom (up to 2 years).

Can liability be avoided

Theoretically, responsibility for self-connection to the power grid can be avoided. But for this, the shutdown preceding this event should be illegal and contradict the RF PP No. 422.

If a citizen understands that he was deprived of his energy illegally, he must file a complaint about the unlawful actions of the supplier company with the prosecutor's office, the Federal Antimonopoly Service or his own criminal code.

But even in this case, most likely, it will be necessary to pay a fine for unauthorized connection of electricity after a blackout.

Reconnecting

The power supply organization has the right to terminate the contract with the consumer unilaterally. This action is regulated by Art. 546 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. The reason for this step may be a long non-payment of bills or damage to the meter. Moreover, the user must break the counter intentionally.Otherwise, if the device is accidentally damaged or by third parties, it simply needs to be replaced.

So the most likely reason for terminating the contract is a delay in paying for the use of the resource. The supplier company takes this step when the consumer does not pay more than two months.

The subscriber is notified of the upcoming disconnection in writing, 10 days before the event. This time is given to the debtor so that he can find finance to pay off the debt. If the debt is not liquidated, the non-payer will be disconnected.

Reconnection is possible. An application should be written to the energy supply company, but it will be considered only after the repayment of the debt. Reconnecting is a paid service.

What to do when the power is turned off

Non-payers should not bring the situation to such an outcome. If there is a debt, but there is no way to pay it off simultaneously, it is worthwhile to agree with the supplier company on the provision of installments. They are usually not too eager, but still take this step. Installments are provided for six months, a monthly payment will be required for the energy consumed plus a portion of the debt.

If the electricity has already been cut off, then it is necessary to pay off the debt and re-sign the contract with the energy supply organization.

Important information

1. Consumers are concerned about the amount of the fine for unauthorized connection of electricity. How much will you pay? For ordinary people, it will be 10-15 thousand rubles. This is a serious amount. In small cities, such a fine will amount to 20-50% of wages.
2. The supplier company cannot disconnect the subscriber if his debt is less than two months old. This rule has been in force since 2017.
3. Some categories of citizens cannot be deprived of electricity. We are talking about people with disabilities, pregnant women, minor citizens and veterans.
4. Only a power company can turn off energy.

As practice shows, it is best to pay on time, rather than engage in dubious manipulations.