In August, CEDIS carried out around 590 assessments for unauthorized electricity consumption, amounting to approximately €190,000. Of the total 1.6 million kWh (kilowatt-hours) assessed, around 30 per cent was assessed as unauthorized consumption—theft—while approximately 1.1 million kWh was assessed as unauthorized consumption by users who had connected themselves to the network without authorization.
The campaign to curb unauthorized electricity consumption will continue in the coming period throughout all Montenegrin municipalities.
“Our activities are producing results. This is evident from the fact that overall losses in August were slightly lower than in the same period last year, despite electricity consumption being 25% higher than in August last year. Our intention is to maintain continuity and demonstrate long-term resolve in the field to curb unauthorized consumption, until this harmful practice—which has been eroding the electricity distribution system for decades—is completely eradicated,” said Vladimir Ivanović, Head of the Operations Directorate.
Vladimir Ivanović
CEDIS has state-of-the-art equipment for detecting unauthorized activity at metering points, while field operations are carried out by expert teams with many years of experience, familiar with all forms of unauthorized electricity consumption and detailed information about the characteristics of the consumption area, particularly problem areas.
“At CEDIS, we insist on education as a precursor to field activities and the imposition of penalties, because in a number of cases illegal activity on the network results from insufficient awareness of the potential legal consequences if you are ‘caught in the act’—and that possibility is always there. The applicable regulations provide for all forms of unauthorized activity on the network to be penalized, once detected, to such an extent that they become completely unprofitable. Individuals also often fail to understand the harm caused to legally connected users, as well as to the electricity distribution system. Unauthorized electricity consumption primarily reduces the security and quality of supply; as a result, the illegal actions of irresponsible individuals may cause supply problems for those who are legally connected and regularly pay their electricity bills,” emphasized Vladimir Ivanović, Head of the Operations Directorate.
The Energy Law prohibits the unauthorized use of electricity and requires CEDIS, if it detects theft, to suspend electricity supply to the user without prior warning. Further action is prescribed by the Rules for Conducting the Procedure for Detecting, Determining and Preventing the Unauthorized Use of Electricity and the Methodology for Calculating and Collecting Charges for Unauthorized Electricity Consumption.
“We have the most problems with unauthorized consumption in areas where illegal construction is prevalent, but we will gradually bring those consumption areas into satisfactory condition, both in terms of losses and quality of supply. It is important to note that inaccessible metering points and meters behind locked gates on private property are not an obstacle for CEDIS, and that there are mechanisms established by law to penalize these forms of illegal activity as well,” added Vladimir Ivanović, Head of the Operations Directorate.
Under the regulations, unauthorized use of electricity includes: connecting a user to the electricity distribution system or another customer’s installation without authorization; using electricity without a meter or bypassing the meter; unauthorized tampering with metering devices in a way that prevents the correct recording of electricity consumed; reconnecting without authorization after electricity supply has been suspended due to unauthorized consumption or non-payment of bills for electricity consumed; and using electricity after the termination or expiry of a grid connection agreement or a supply agreement.
