Electricity found to have been stolen will be charged at double the current market price.

At the same time, those who commit electricity theft will retroactively pay for the stolen energy from the date the theft is considered to have started, while they will also cover the administrative costs for detecting the theft (labor, spare parts, etc.).

This is the proposal of the Network Operator (DEDDIE) to the Energy and Water Waste Regulatory Authority after finding out on the one hand that the phenomenon of theft has expanded and on the other hand that the price of electricity that was set in 2017 as a “penalty” for electricity theft today – with the increase in the costs involved – is lower than the current market.

“The amount owed by the consumer who has committed electricity theft, when it is detected, is significantly lower than the current cost that the consistent consumer is required to pay for electricity, which renders ineffective the deterrent and preventive character that the relevant regulation should have framework on rheumatic thefts” states the DEDDIE in the proposal submitted for consultation by the ERAEF.

The proposal foresees a methodology for determining the price, with which the stolen energy will be charged, based on the current fixed and floating tariffs, plus other charges (YKÓ, ETMEAR, networks) so that the “penalty” is adjusted according to the evolution of the market . The resulting price is doubled (plus 100 %) in all cases except for consumers included in the Social Tariff for whom the surcharge is 50 %. Indicatively with the data of the first half of 2024, the stolen energy would be charged from 464 to 520 euros per megawatt hour for residential and other (professional) consumers respectively and from 145 to 280 for CTO beneficiaries.

Debts due to electricity theft are proposed to be settled in installments as follows:

  • Up to 600 euros, the payment will be made in one go.
  • From 601 euros to 1,200 euros, the repayment will be made in a maximum of two installments.
  • From 1,201 euros to 2,400 euros, up to 4 installments,
  • From 2,401 euros to 4,800 euros, up to 8 installments.
  • From 4,800 euros and up to 12 installments.

Working hours and administrative costs will be added to the amounts obtained for the value of electricity, 294-365 euros per case depending on the type of supply plus the cost of replacing the meter where necessary, from 66-250 euros taking into account the value of “smart” meters .

Also of interest are the figures according to which established power thefts from domestic consumers constituted 54.7% of all established power thefts for the period 2018-2023, and approximately 40% of all unrecorded power theft energy of the corresponding period. Also, the identified rheumatic thefts from commercial consumers constituted 86.7% of the identified rheumatic thefts of non-domestic consumers during the period 2018-2023.