The theft of gas and electricity is both dangerous and illegal. It usually involves tampering with pipes, wires or meters and can cause electrocution, fire or even explosions, potentially resulting in serious injuries and deaths.
Energy theft also increases the cost to gas and electricity consumers, adding up to £50 to every consumer’s energy bills each year. Our recently published report has shown the true scale of energy theft in GB.
The last thorough assessment of the scale of energy theft in Great Britain was undertaken by Ofgem, the industry regulator, around ten years ago. That review led Ofgem to strengthen gas and electricity suppliers’ licence obligations to require the prevention, detection and investigation of theft.
However, no reliable estimate of the scale of the problem has been produced since.
In 2021, we commissioned Capgemini, a leading technology and data science company, to produce a Theft Estimation Methodology. The project took longer than anticipated while the team sought access to data which had not been previously available. Ultimately, a revised approach was adopted to mitigate these constraints, relying more heavily on available data sources, including confirmed energy theft cases, to estimate current theft levels of gas and electricity.
Based on the data available, the methodology Capgemini developed has produced an estimated level of theft of up to 1069 GWh gas and 2837 GWh electricity per year. As determined by Ofgem under the Default Tariff Cap, current prices would equate to a value of up to £1.4 billion per year, though that figure will vary as wholesale prices change.
RECCo will use the insights provided by the Theft Estimation Methodology report to inform its work with the energy industry to reduce energy theft, not least in accessing relevant data to improve future analysis and provide further insights, as well as other activities such as continuing our relationship charity Crimestoppers, which operates the anonymous theft tip-off service. RECCo will also continue to fund the Stay Energy Safe campaign to raise awareness of the danger of tampering with gas and electricity equipment.
Read the report in full
To find out more about our work to reduce energy theft click here
To report meter tampering or energy theft 100% anonymously call Crimestoppers free on 0800 023 2777 or visit the website
For media enquiries please get in touch with the UK Revenue Protection Association here or call 020 7090 1070
You can find out more about Capgemini here
We are pleased to announce the successful appointment of a new service provider to deliver the audit regime against the Consolidated Metering Codes of Practice (CoMCoP), which will be implemented on 1 April 2023. This appointment is an important step within the Metering Codes of Practice Consolidation Review as it will ensure that the codes of practice continue to be upheld and maintained to the highest standard.
The new service provider, Wilcock Consultants have a wealth of experience in the energy industry and a proven track record of delivering high-quality services to their clients. They currently deliver the audit regime for the Gas Metering Code of Practice (previously AMICoP and MAMCoP), and their services will now extend to the remaining metering codes of practice (ASPCoP, MOCoP and SMIs) which have been consolidated under CoMCoP.
We are committed to ensuring that the energy market operates in a fair and transparent manner, and the appointment of a new service provider is a key part of this. We are confident that Wilcock Consultants will do an excellent job in this role and we look forward to working with them to achieve our goals.
We want to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing service providers for their contributions over the years and look forward to working with Wilcock Consultants to continue to deliver the CoMCoP audit regime and improve the codes of practice and the energy market.
A communication plan will be published shortly by the REC Code Manager to provide further information on the details of the scheme. This plan will outline the steps that will be taken to inform Parties of the changes, including the timing and method of communication. It will also provide information on how Parties can provide feedback and ask questions about the new service provider and the audit scheme. The communication plan aims to ensure that all Parties are well-informed and prepared ahead of 1 April 2023.