Electricity Theft -- Costly and Unsafe

Theft involving electricity and related materials is a problem all electric utilities face – and it’s one customers of the utility share. Since Access Energy Cooperative is member-owned, electricity theft could end up costing you money, too.  Compensating for electricity theft drives up prices for everyone involved – everyone except the culprit.
Theft of electricity also puts your personal safety at risk. Tampering with an electric meter can make it unsafe and unstable. When people steal electricity, they put themselves, their neighbors, family and pets all at risk for electric shock, power surges, sparks and fire from exposed voltage. Stealing electrical related materials can also pose a significant risk to the culprit, result in injury or even death from exposure to live electricity.
Electricity theft isn’t isolated to rural areas or to big cities. It’s a problem utilities encounter from agricultural operations to housing complexes to business offices from coast to coast. Although electricity can be easily acquired through a utility, some people are still willing to risk physical damage or loss of life just for the sake of some free kilowatt hours. Others may not realize the serious legal and potential health implications. Stealing electricity is illegal under Iowa law and violates electrical codes.
Keeping power safe and affordable is a priority for Access Energy Cooperative. That is why we routinely inspect cooperative meters and equipment, to ensure we’re doing our best to protect you from the risks of electricity theft. We take a proactive approach to this serious problem, eliminating theft and reducing related costs.
You can also play a role in this process, by immediately notifying us if you suspect someone is gaining access to our power supply without paying their fair share of the costs or tampering with equipment. If you have information related to electricity theft, please contact us. Rest assured, we’ll keep your name anonymous.  Because you share in the ownership of Access Energy Cooperative, when people steal from the cooperative, they’re stealing from you, too!