With the worry of an energy crisis, the cost of living, and energy theft on the rise, escalating energy costs are a major concern across the globe. Everyone is feeling the pinch as prices rise more than ever. Higher energy bills can take a significant toll on an individual’s budget, making it difficult for them to make ends meet and, in some cases, to make rash decisions which could be more dangerous than they first thought. We are discussing energy theft and the dangers you might not have considered.
What is Energy Theft?
Energy theft is when a person tampers with their gas or electricity supply to save money or avoid paying for their energy usage altogether. With videos and posts all over the internet about how to save money, people have been learning to do more than just budget for their groceries, but as with all things on the internet, what you see and read does not always give the full facts for you to make an informed decision and the effects can be deadly.
Introducing Stay Energy Safe
Stay Energy Safe is an anonymous reporting platform operated by Crimestoppers to keep people and communities safe from the dangers of energy theft. Their latest campaign shows two workmen chatting in a cafe about the rising cost of energy prices and how one man can’t afford his heating. His colleague tells him how he might ‘know of a way to help‘. In the meantime, we see the fuse burning down to the gas meter as if it were a bomb, passing by members of the surrounding community who will be affected by the blast when it has run out.
It is a stark lesson in how many people can be affected by one careless and desperate decision.
As the video comes to a close, we are left with the shocking statistic that more than 250,000 energy theft cases go unreported every year. Consider that figure and its risks to the world around you. Scary, isn’t it?
Not only that, the financial losses still need to be covered and so can increase a customer’s bill by around £50 per year.
Speak Up, Stay Safe
Keep you, your family and your community safe by reporting anyone you suspect of energy theft. You could be saving lives! You can file a report anonymously online at Stay Energy Safe or call them on freephone 0800 023 2777 to discuss your concerns 100% anonymously.
How to Spot the Signs
Energy theft could be happening near you right now, in homes and businesses, without you even realising the dangers posed to you. Take a moment to acquaint yourself with the signs to look out for:
