News
Michigan to Become One of the First States to Consider Felony Charges for Energy Theft
Mar 10th
Eartha Jan Melzer of The Michigan Messenger reported on 3/9/10 (For more detail see http://michiganmessenger.com/35608/senate-committee-considers-new-penalties-for-energy-theft):
“One week after three Detroit children died in a home with an illegal electricity connection, the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee has scheduled a hearing on legislation that would create new penalties for people who illegally hook up gas or electric service or tamper with meters.”
For more details about the actual incident also see http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22737426/detail.html.
If The Wrong Type of Pipe Can Cause a House to Explode, Imagine Whether Natural Gas Thieves are Using the Correct Pipe!
Jan 31st
“Federal investigators say a utility company used a wrong pipe to repair a gas line, leading to a deadly house explosion in a Sacramento suburb last year.” (Read more at http://cbs5.com/local/christmas.eve.blast.2.1377961.html)
Sometimes Natural Gas Theft is Hard to Detect in Industrial Areas
Jan 14th
On 29 September 2009, “The Buffalo News” news staff writer, Matt Gryta wrote an article “Arts dealer admits natural gas theft” and highlighted “Jeffrey M. Weisberg, a widely known Buffalo arts and antique dealer, pleaded guilty Monday to a felony grand larceny charge linked to heating his West Utica Street home and warehouse for years with an illegal National Fuel gas meter…Weisberg, 61, pleaded guilty to a single count of third-degree grand larceny for the theft of the gas service.”
Breakthrough Technique and Process for Identifying Homes Needing Weatherization
Jan 11th
December 16, 2009 Gaithersburg, MD – RecoverIR, Inc. (RecoverIR™) announces the launch of its Targeted Weatherization Inefficiencies Survey (TWIS) Program, to help utilities, cities, counties, states, and the federal government most economically identify which houses, especially in disadvantaged areas, have the greatest need for weatherization and energy efficiency improvements. Read more…
Americans stealing electricity as power rates rise, money dries up, and families struggle to make ends meet
Jan 7th
USA Today examined a growing, dangerous trend: Americans stealing electricity as power rates rise, money dries up, and families struggle to make ends meet. Wrote the newspaper: “They’re using a wide array of tactics. Some run wires from utility lines directly into a circuit-breaker panel, bypassing the electric meter. Others attach cables on either side [...]
AGA Magazine article “Stop Thief!”
Jan 7th
AGA Magazine article “Stop Thief!” (PDF, article on page 5 –June 2009 issue of AGA’s American Gas Magazine) about finding natural gas thieves.