Free electricity has a high price
To anyone who’s thinking of attempting to steal electric current, West Florida Electric Cooperative offers a word of advice – Don’t. The price of doing so can be high in terms of legal consequences, financial penalties and safety risks.
Under Florida statute, it is unlawful to willfully alter a utility’s meter or other related equipment to cause loss or damage or to prevent the meter from registering the quantity of electricity used. Also illegal are creating a connection to any wire or other equipment to be supplied with electricity without the utility’s consent or without reporting the service for payment, to knowingly receive direct benefit from such unlawful equipment alteration or current diversion, or to possess a device for the purpose of avoiding payment for the service used. Exempted are licensed and certified electrical contractors while performing usual and ordinary service according to recognized standards.
Each of the previously-mentioned offenses is a first degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment, a $1,000 fine or both. Additionally, in civil action, a violator can be liable to the involved utility for triple the amount of the charges normally paid for the quantity of electricity unlawfully obtained or $1,000, whichever is greater.
Because meter tampering and current diversion are illegal -- and because they’re unfair to other WFEC customers -- the Co-op pursues prosecution in all suspected incidences. When alerted to a possible case, WFEC immediately notifies the office of the appropriate county’s sheriff and places a notice of intent to prosecute on the door of the alleged violator’s residence. If WFEC doesn’t receive a response to the notice within seven days from the date on the notice, the Co-op will notify the State’s Attorney’s office.
Besides pursuing punishment under the law, WFEC imposes financial penalties on any individual proven to have stolen current from the Co-op. The person not only must repay WFEC for the estimated amount of energy used plus a higher deposit for further service, but also owes the Co-op a $150 current diversion investigation fee. But a person who tampers with a meter or other live electrical equipment without the necessary knowledge and protective gear risks a much greater cost – serious injury or even death.
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