What are the consequences of illegal connection to power grids?
Unaccounted consumption accounts for the majority of electricity losses. Most of the unaccounted electricity is identified during raids and scheduled inspections of electricity metering devices.
Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous consumers who connect their electrical appliances before the meter, make "taps" on power transmission lines, and arbitrarily connect electrical appliances to the networks of the energy supply organization.
Pursuant to clause 53 of the Electricity Supply Rules, approved by Resolution No. 1394 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated 17.10.2011 (hereinafter – Electricity Supply Rules), connection of electrical installations to the electrical network in violation of the established procedure is considered unauthorized, and consumers are liable for this in accordance with these Rules and other legislative acts.
According to clause 219 of the Electricity Supply Rules, if a citizen is found to have unauthorized (contract-free) electricity consumption, confirmed by an act drawn up by the energy supply organization, the energy supply organization calculates the amount of damage at tariffs that ensure full compensation for economically justified costs for electricity supply services. The calculation of the amount, as well as supporting acts, are sent to the district prosecutor's office for the preparation of a statement of claim to the court.
Thus, according to clause 1 of Article 933 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Belarus, damage caused to the property of a legal entity is subject to full compensation by the person who caused the damage.
In the first quarter of 2020 alone, the district prosecutor's office, in the interests of RUE "Vitebskenergo", filed 3 statements of claim against violators of electricity supply rules with the Beshenkovichi District Court, for a total amount of 1,262 rubles 15 kopecks. The claims were satisfied in full, and the court also recovered state duty from the violators.
It should be noted that in addition to compensating for damages, violators are also brought to administrative responsibility under Article 20.10 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Belarus, which entails a fine of five times the amount of the damage caused.
Assistant Prosecutor of Beshenkovichi District, Lawyer 2nd Class S.A. Kiryanov
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