QEC: Mess with power meters and you’ll burn your fingers — or worse

The Qulliq Energy Corp. warns that tampering with power meters can lead to burns, electrocution and even death. (PHOTO BY DAVID MURPHY)

The dangerous practice of electrical power meter tampering in Nunavut rose 10 times higher than normal last month the Qulliq Energy Corp. warned Nov. 12.

Tampering with meters is usually a way of stealing electrical power, but it can also be an act of vandalism, the QEC’s director of corporate affairs, Natalie Chafe-Yuan, said in an email.

Usually the QEC sees one incident of metering tampering per month.

But that rose to about 10 or 12 incidents in October alone, Chafe-Yuan said.

“We have noted an increase in the number of cases of meter tampering than in previous years,” Chafe-Yuan said.

The majority of those are in Iqaluit, she said.

The QEC warns that meter tampering can lead to “serious injuries.”

That’s because “there is 240 volts live when the meter is removed, hence the potential of harm,” she said.

That much live electricity can lead to injuries like burns, electric shock or even death.

QEC also warns that tampering with a meter can cause property damage due to “fire or explosions.”

The QEC does not know how many people have been injured due to meter tampering.

They are, however, warning that “meter tampering is a serious criminal offence, punishable by fine or imprisonment.”

It’s up to the judges discretion to impose a fine, however.

“Nunavummiut are asked to report any cases of meter tampering to QEC representatives or the RCMP,” the PSA read.

In April 2011 the QEC announced a rate increase of 19 per cent for all its customers.

Earlier in November the QEC filed an application to raise power bills an average of 5.1 per cent starting April 1 2014.