Fines for Tampering With Electricity Meters Now Doubled

In an effort to put an end to electricity theft by tampering with meters, the Electricity Regulatory Authority and Consumer Protection issued a number of new regulations. These include the doubling of the fine for electricity theft, up to EGP 100,000, and the application of stricter measures to record electricity theft.

Previously, the theft report was previously based on counting the electrical devices present at a location, measuring their electrical loads, summing them up, and then dividing the total by 50% according to the relativity factor, assuming that the devices do not operate continuously. The new system cancels the relativity factor calculation, and instead calculates consumption as is. Additionally, campaigns will be coordinated in both residential and industrial establishments to detect tampering in cases where the nature of consumption does not align with the monthly bill.

New regulations will also be put in place to prevent unlicensed properties from stealing electricity. All properties will have coded meters installed until their situations are licensed or removed. A uniform consumption tier will be applied for calculating their consumption at the highest tier, depriving them of the benefit of the tiered pricing structure. This applies only to new coded meters and will not affect old coded meters.