In January 2024, Umeå Energi discovered large electricity losses in a residential area. A control measurement over three months showed a villa consumed 25,651 kWh while the meter registered only 3,620 kWh, according to multiple reports. During a house search, police found electricity had been bypassed around the meter, and thick cables were found on the floors and in the yard, suspected to have been used to divert electricity before the meter, according to multiple reports.
The man was convicted of gross unlawful energy use and must pay damages to Umeå Energi, multiple reports state. The district court considered it unlikely someone would make electrical reconnections in another person's house and convicted the man. He was sentenced to a conditional sentence and fines of 2,500 SEK in addition to damages, according to multiple reports.
Electricity theft is not a huge problem but there has been a hidden number of cases; new technology and digitalization of the electricity grid allow better analysis of meter data to find those trying to circumvent the system.
The man denied the crime, claiming he was not the one who consumed the large amount of electricity, according to multiple reports. He first claimed he was in prison, then claimed he was abroad or at hotels when that was disproven, according to multiple reports. During police interviews, he refused to answer questions, according to multiple reports.
Umeå Energi suspects the man has stolen electricity since the early 2000s based on a drastic drop in annual consumption. The company only claimed damages for the last five years because a longer calculation would be too uncertain, according to multiple reports. The man had an abnormally high electricity consumption of 80,000 kWh per year, about four times normal for a house with direct electric heating, according to multiple reports.
The electricity that these people use but don't pay for ends up as network losses, and those costs are distributed to all customers who follow the rules and pay.
According to SVT Västerbotten, a Umeå Energi employee said the reason for the high consumption is unclear, but likely primarily for heating. Umeå Energi is claiming compensation of 295,261 SEK for electricity and 19,545 SEK for investigation and labor costs, according to multiple reports. According to Dagens Nyheter, Jan Eriksson, CEO of Umeå Energi Elnät AB, described how the electricity used but not paid for ends up as network losses, and those costs are distributed to all paying customers.
According to Dagens Nyheter, Jan Eriksson described that electricity theft is not a huge problem but there has been a hidden number of cases, and new technology and digitalization of the electricity grid allow better analysis of meter data to find those trying to circumvent the system. Umeå Energi has had four convictions in similar cases in the past year, with more under investigation, according to multiple reports. According to Dagens Nyheter, Jan Eriksson described that the problem of electricity thieves exists throughout the country, not just in Umeå.
The problem of electricity thieves exists throughout the country, not just in Umeå.
According to Dagens Nyheter, Jan Eriksson described that it is important for Umeå Energi to follow laws and regulations, ensure correct metering and billing, and show that they have control over this to make customers feel secure.
It is important for Umeå Energi to follow laws and regulations, ensure correct metering and billing, and show that they have control over this to make customers feel secure.
The reason for the high consumption is unclear, but likely primarily for heating.