Stay Energy Safe Northern Ireland

Energy theft, also referred to as meter tampering, means interfering with your energy meter so that it doesn’t record the amount of energy being used, and in some cases, doesn’t record any usage at all.

This is a criminal offence, and can lead to a fine and potentially a prison sentence. It can also be lethal, so it isn’t worth the risk.

Speaking up about energy theft is really important.  Identifying tampered meters means they can be made safe.  This ensures that everyone living and working nearby is protected from the dangers that energy theft poses.  Don’t let people get injured, or killed, as a result of energy theft.  If you have information that could help, put a stop to it, tell us what you know.

If you suspect energy theft is happening in Northern Ireland, you can pass the information on to Stay Energy Safe Northern Ireland.  You will stay 100% anonymous. Always. We won’t ask who you are, we’ll just pass on what you know.  Call us on 0800 917 2050 or complete the simple online form at www.StayEnergySafeNI-give-info.co.uk. Speak up. Stay energy safe. This service is dedicated to Northern Ireland and is not linked to Stay Energy Safe in Great Britain. If you are looking to report energy theft taking place in England, Scotland or Wales, please click here.

Tampering with an electricity meter can make appliances in the home or business live to the touch, putting all those doing something as simple as switching on a light, making a cup of tea, or having a shower, at risk of electric shocks.

Not only this, but appliances can overheat, or malfunction, causing serious injuries and they can even start fires. This puts those living or working in the building at risk of injury, or worse, and the fire can also spread to neighbouring properties impacting those who live or work nearby.

Interfering with your gas meter can result in it not working properly.  Gas can leak from connections that have been tampered with, which can cause nausea and light headedness, they can also prevent gas from entering your home safely meaning that gas appliances leak or don’t burn the gas properly which creates carbon monoxide (a gas that can cause unconsciousness or death).

Gas is extremely flammable, which means if it builds up in a room it could explode if it is exposed to sparks or a naked flame.

Energy theft can make your home, or place of work, a ticking timebomb.

• Extra wires that look out of place, are bare, twisted together, or connected in an unusual way.
• Damaged meter casing - cracked, scorched, melted, screws missing.
• The electricity supply to the property is on, but there is no credit showing on the prepayment meter.
• A burning smell near the meter.
• Smoke or sparks near the meter.
• The meter is missing or has been replaced without authorisation.

• Pipes that look out of place or are connected back to front.
• Rubber piping that has replaced metal pipes.
• Damage to the gas apparatus including the meter.
• Flags and/or error codes on the meter.
• Damaged or missing meter seals.
• Dials that aren’t moving, are not visible, or are missing.
• The gas supply to the property is on, but there is no credit showing on the prepayment meter.
• The meter is fitted back to front (no dials visible).
• Smell of gas near the meter.
• The meter is missing or has been replaced without authorisation.

• Criminals who want to take advantage of vulnerable people.
• Criminals that don’t want to pay for the energy they use to power their illegal activity, for example the heating and lighting for their cannabis farms.
• Landlords who want to make more money from, or want to pass on cost savings to, their tenants.
• People that don’t want to pay to heat their hot tub or swimming pool.
• Businesses that are struggling to cover rising costs or want to improve their profit margin.
• Crypto miners that don’t want to pay for the energy to power and cool their powerful equipment.
• Homeowners or tenants who are trying to save money on their bills.

• You will not be asked to reveal your name or any personal details.
• Your call will not be recorded.
• We have no caller line display, no 1471 facility and have never traced a call.
• Calls will not show up on your bill.
• Our specially trained call agents will support you through the process and make sure your report contains no information that could identify you.
• We do not make a note of gender, accents, apparent age or ethnicity of any caller.
• If you give us information, on the phone or online, in a language other than English, we will not record that your information has been received in a different language.
• When you report via our online form, you can do so safe in the knowledge that your device’s IP addresses are overwritten, masked and can never be traced back to your device.