Gas Natural Fenosa warns of dangers of energy theft

The number of instances of energy theft, which includes stealing of equipment or wires, meter tampering and use of illegal connections to bypass meters, have significantly risen in the last year, and apart from causing disruptions in electricity supply and losses for the utility, they also pose a serious life threat, warned Gas Natural Fenosa, Moldova's largest electricity supplier, at a traditional information seminar. To counter equipment theft and electricity diversion, the company intends to intensify cooperation with state and local authorities, asking civil society for help as well, said Lilian Cernalevschi, Gas Natural Fenosa's safety manager. Vasile Gribincea, the company's communication department head, noted that it was the fifth information seminar held for reporters by the utility. “I think we've managed to raise the reporters' awareness of this problem. We've even established partnerships with some media outlets, and this has helped us, particularly during vacations, reduce the number of instances of children interfering with electricity installations. We will continue to promote this campaign to make it national, with a truly responsible involvement of the media and civil society”, said Vasile Gribincea. “And it's not so much about the economic aspect of the problem but about the potential loss of human lives. Energy systems are extremely complex and any unprofessional and uncoordinated interference is very dangerous for one's health and life”, added Vasile Gribincea.