People risking their lives by tampering with energy meters

Nearly half of gas engineers and electricians (43%) have been asked to tamper with energy meters during the last year, according to a new report. A survey by Direct Line found tradespeople are being urged to break the law to help people struggling with the high cost of energy.

Tampering with a meter means it shows you are using less energy than you are. But it’s a dangerous practice as it involves damaging the wiring. This not only poses a fire hazard but also exposes people to potentially deadly electric shocks.

A third of tradespeople (30%) reported seeing evidence of tampering in customers’ homes and a fifth (19%) said they know someone else who has seen something similar.

Anyone caught meter tampering could be looking at a £30,000 fine.

Struggling with high energy costs?

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, the first thing you should so is get in touch with your provider. Quite a few suppliers offer grants to help customers in financial strife.

And if you need advice on getting your finances back on track, we’ll be happy to help. We can check you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to, go through your budget to see if you can make any savings and advise you on ways to deal with your debt. You can get support online and over the phone.