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Meter Tampering

Making ends meet might be hard for many Hoosiers right now. If you find yourself falling behind paying monthly utility bills, contact your electric cooperative for help before you face losing service. SCI REMC has programs that can help consumers keep the lights on.

If your electricity has already been disconnected, never tamper with your meter or try to reconnect power yourself. These acts are extremely dangerous and illegal.

If you’re unable to pay your bill, please don’t resort to theft. Contact us, let us know your situation, and we will work with you as best we can. We have programs, such as prepaid that will keep your power on and help you pay down previous bills.

Co-ops see an uptick in the number of delinquent accounts and cases of meter tampering during economic downturns, especially after the winter moratorium on disconnections of delinquent accounts has passed.

Tampering is hazardous to the person doing it and to the public after it’s done because all the safety precautions that the co-op put in place are now bypassed. The big hazard with trying to reconnect yourself is an arc flash since the components are close together and right in your face. If you’re standing in water or wet grass, there’s the possibility of electrocution. But what always worries me most is usually we find the tampered meter base left open — so kids could get into it, and any unsuspecting person could be exposed to that hazard.

Tampering can cause the overload protections for the transformer on the utility pole to fail or other problems, as well as potentially causing power outages to neighbors and others along the line.

Like shoplifting, electricity theft is not a victimless crime: all the utility’s consumers ultimately pay for the stolen power through higher rates. Consumers caught meter tampering or stealing electricity, as they usually are, can face hefty penalties. Depending on the amount of electricity involved in the theft and the circumstances, the co-op may take the case to the sheriff’s department and the county prosecutor.

Because electric co-ops are owned by their consumers, co-ops go the extra mile to help those consumers going through hard times. Disconnections and collection agencies are the last resorts we hope to avoid. And certainly, we never want to see consumers risking their lives or endangering others stealing electricity. But we can only help consumers who will let us help them and will work with us.

‘No cost’ things homeowners can do to save electricity

If you are looking to cut your electric bill, here are some “no-cost” things you can do immediately:

  • Close your drapes in summer to keep the direct sunlight from heating the house.
  • Use your microwave instead of the conventional oven to cook as much as possible.
  • Hang your clothes up to dry instead of using the dryer.
  • If your electric co-op has “off-peak” rates, shift as much of your electricity use to those times to save on the electricity you use.
  • Contact your electric co-op for more advice or schedule a visit to your home by its energy advisor who can find other ways to save.

‘No-cost and Low-cost’ things consumers can do to save electricity

If you are looking to cut your electric bill, here are some “no-cost” and “low-cost” things you can do immediately:

  • Close your drapes in summer to keep the sun from heating the house.
  • Hang your clothes up to dry. If you live in a neighborhood that won’t allow outdoor clotheslines, various styles of indoor clothes racks can be found online.
  • Use your microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than your stove to cook and heat food. Other energy-savers: grill outdoors or enjoy healthy soups and salads as the main course.
  • Inch up your thermostat. If you dress in light clothing and turn on your ceiling fans while the air conditioning is running, you’ll be comfortable at 78° You’ll save between 1% and 3% on your cooling bill for every degree you move your thermostat higher than 72° F.
  • Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120° It’s also safer than a higher setting because 120° F water won’t scald anyone.
  • Install a programmable thermostat. Set it to raise your home’s temperature by at least seven degrees when everyone leaves the house for the day.
  • Learn about your electric co-op rates and if it has “time-of-use” pricing. If your electric co-op has “off-peak” rates that are lower than the regular rate, shift as much of your electricity use to those times to save on the electricity you do use. Avoid running your dishwasher, clothes dryer, and any unnecessary electrical devices if a “peak” rate, usually around 5-8 p.m., is in effect.
  • Contact your electric co-op for more advice or schedule a visit to your home by its energy advisor who can find other ways to save.