Power energy thefts are still one of the most serious problems in the work of the power grid complex of the region. In Samara region during the first quarter of 2009 year 148 cases of the power energy consumption without the contract were revealed in Samara Distribution Grids, branch    IDGC of Volga, JSC objects. It is equal to 1285892,56 kWh. Citizens find different ways to connect to the power transmission lines over the accounting devices. It should be noted that the unauthorized power consumption is the theft and is prosecuted as the other law violations. With the aim of power thefts fighting the economic security department and other services of – “Samara Distribution Grids” branch of  IDGC of Volga, JSC employees in the cooperation with the law-enforcement and municipal authorities regularly conduct the raids to reveal the cases of the unauthorized power consumption. They take the formal acts and warn the law-breakers. Such measures often help to cover the losses without going to the court. The biggest number of the defaulters are agree to pay the damages free. As the practice shows criminal proceedings opened against the persistent non-payers are often finished with the guilty verdict. For example, the inhabitant of Bolshaya Chernigovka village was sentenced to one year in prison for the unauthorized power energy consumption (avoiding the counter) during five months. The total number of criminal cases devoted to the power energy thefts adjudged in prisons of Samara regions since 2009 yeas is equal to 22. In all the cases the non-payers received the punishment in accordance with Russian Federation Criminal Code Chapter 165 part 1. Damage equal to 110 thousand rubles was repaired to the power energy specialists.

Management of Samara Distribution Grids, branch of IDGC of Volga, JSC – “ reminds the citizens that unauthorized connection to the power supply system is both illegal and dangerous for your life since the unqualified interference to the work of the power grids could result in voltage shock and the fire owing to the short circuit.