E.ON Hungary: New Approach to Tackling Illegal Consumption
Increasing illegal consumption is a stringent issue for Hungarian electricity distribution companies. Current difficult economic downturn has determined many to use illegal connections to get electricity “for free”, causing important losses to DSOs. Stealing electricity is as simple as throwing a cable on a bare mains wire. With legacy electromechanical meters, installed at consumer premises, the utility would not know the location of illegal connection, so dishonest behavior can go on undetected infinitely.
E.ON Hungary decided to curb illegal electricity consumption and started a pilot project to test new methods for decreasing the theft rate. To ensure a lasting effect of its measures, E.ON designed a comprehensive strategy: technical means to protect distribution infrastructure and eliminate tampering attempts coupled with educational program aimed to persuade residents to consume electricity responsibly, legally thus solving the root of the phenomenon.
