What risks are involved when tampering with gas installations?
Tampering with gas installations is very dangerous for the person doing it, their household and their neighbours. It could leads to leaks, resulting in possible fires, and in extreme cases, explosions.
Is gas fraud classified as an offence?
Articles 255 and 623 of the Criminal Code define energy fraud through tampering with installations or meters as an offence and a felony, and establish penalties.
Does committing natural gas fraud affect other consumers?
Users who commit energy fraud cause financial harm to other consumers as the current configuration of the tariff framework offsets gas loss by increasing the quarterly prices set for general-access tariffs.
How are all the companies, industries and businesses that comply with the law affected by the fact that some of their competitors resort to tampering?
Gas fraud committed by a company, industry or business is tantamount to unfair competition against its competitors that are operating in accordance with the law.
Can fraud cause damage to installations?
Tampering with installations and/or illegal connections to the distribution network can cause incidents in the client’s installations and those shared by other users of a building.
Are the power companies entitled to cut off a supply if they detect fraud?
Article 56.1 of Royal Decree 1434/2002 of 31 December 2002, entitles distribution companies to cut off user supply in several cases, including:
a) When bypasses are created to supply gas to an installation not included in the contract.
b) When gas pipelines or appliances do not have the necessary authorisations.
c) When the measurement or control device is tampered with or its correct operation prevented.
Is the named party on the contract responsible for any possible cases of fraud in the installations?
The named party on the contract guarantees the safekeeping of the measurement equipment and is responsible for the gas installation on their property, meaning they are responsible for any fraud that may be committed involving these items.
What should I do when I enter a new property and I suspect that the installation may have been tampered with?
Whenever you rent, purchase, inherit or receive a property, we recommend an inspection of the installation to verify it is in perfect condition.
The named party on the contract should notify the distribution company of any situation of fraud so that swift corrective action can be taken, as they are responsible for the measurement equipment and the installation.
What should I do if I think I am the victim of energy theft?
Users who take part of a supply from a neighbour’s pipeline are committing theft.
The victim of energy theft should notify the State law enforcement agencies of the situation, as it constitutes an offence. The distributor can perform a professional inspection of the connection and the installation, which can be used when filing a police report and as expert evidence in a trial.
You can report any irregularity or fraud by completing our form.