Ofgem takes on £138m annual theft

GAS theft is costing British householders £138 million a year, regulator Ofgem has warned, as it launched new initiatives to stamp out the practice.

About 3,000 gas thefts are detected in the UK every year – costing consumers £6 on the average gas bill – but Ofgem believes that double that number of incidents could be taking place.

It hopes to detect as many as 6,000 incidents a year, but a new framework will include a stolen meters register to identify where meters have been illegally switched and a 24-hour hotline to report gas theft.

It will also require suppliers to take steps detect, prevent and investigate theft.

“We want to see suppliers take more action to reduce gas theft, which threatens the safety of consumers and industry workers as well making gas more expensive,” said Andrew Wright, senior partner for markets. Trisha McAuley, deputy director at Consumer Focus Scotland, pictured below, said: “Gas theft poses a serious safety risk, not only to those involved but also to surrounding households in Scotland.

“This theft also adds to the cost of everyone’s bills – about £6 per sustomer – so additional measures to combat this are very welcome.”