Half-Billion Ruble Electricity Theft in St. Petersburg and Region

On January 28, the press service of Rosseti Lenenergo reported that in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region in 2025, 2,455 cases of unauthorized and unmetered electricity consumption were detected and stopped. The total amount of recoveries from violators reached 527.9 million rubles (about $5.9 million at current rates).

Of the total violations, 1,098 cases were unauthorized consumption, when consumers connected to the networks without concluding power supply contracts. For this, 387.8 million rubles (about $4.3 million) were recovered for 46.5 million kWh of electricity. Another 1,357 episodes relate to unmetered consumption — here a contract existed, but the meters worked incorrectly due to external interference. The volume of such thefts amounted to 23.5 million kWh worth 140.1 million rubles (about $1.6 million).

Illegal electricity consumption is economically disadvantageous because its cost significantly exceeds the expenses of legal use. For unauthorized connection, administrative liability is provided under Article 7.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation: a fine for individuals from 10 to 15 thousand rubles (about $110–170), for legal entities from 100 to 200 thousand rubles (about $1,100–2,200). Reports of possible thefts can be made by phone to the contact center of Rosseti Lenenergo: 8-800-220-0-220.