SELECT and SNIPEF issue joint warning about dangers of meter-tampering



Illegal meter-tampering is putting people’s lives at risk as they resort to increasingly desperate measures to reduce spiralling energy bills, SELECT and SNIPEF have warned.

The association has teamed up with the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation to issue a joint alert over the cost of living crisis, which is driving a worrying rise in potentially lethal meter-tampering.

The bodies say interfering with electricity and gas meters can have a “disastrous effect” on perpetrators and innocent people nearby – and have urged anyone coming across tampering to report it and avert disaster.

Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT said: “It is a distressing sign of the times that an increasing number of consumers are resorting to tampering with their electrical and gas meters in an effort to reduce their energy bills.

“This is a worrying and illegal practice, often encouraged by widely shared footage on social media. But it risks lives and can have fatal consequences for others who live and work close by.”

Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of SNIPEF, added: “Such services are often offered by unscrupulous individuals who will bypass services or devices for a fee. But the methods they use are extremely dangerous and often they can have no, or very limited, knowledge of what they’re actually doing.

“Like all gas and electrical work, interrupting the supply is something that should only ever be dealt with by fully-trained and qualified professionals.”

SELECT and SNIPEF are now urging householders and tradespeople to keep an eye out for the tell-tale signs of tampering.

Alan said: “Anyone who comes across this kind of activity – be it a SELECT or SNIPEF member or a member of the public – should report it immediately to their energy provider to prevent a potentially fatal accident.”

The joint warning echoes a recent alert from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), who say meter tampering is occurring with increasing frequency as the price of electricity and gas rises.

Writing in the SELECT magazine, cabletalk, Sean Smith, Fire Investigation Officers Watch Commander with SFRS, said: “SFRS is now seeing meter tampering and removal services with increasing frequency and, sadly, we have first-hand experience of the tragic circumstances that they can cause.

“We are now engaging with communities to discourage this dangerous act and make people aware of the significant risks from energy theft and meter tampering.”

The renewed alert follows a warning last year from energy regulator Ofcom, who flagged the danger of social media posts claiming gas and electricity meters could be removed as an “energy-saving hack”.

It also coincides with the current high-profile Stay Energy Safe campaign from Crimestoppers, urging contractors and consumers to contact them anonymously at 0800 023 2777 if they think a meter has been tampered.

As part of the campaign, Stay Energy Safe highlighted the tragic case of an elderly woman who died in a house fire in Glasgow after her son had their electricity meter bypassed to save on bill payments.