New research from Stay Energy Safe reveals a significant gap between what the public assumes about energy theft and what the evidence shows.
Across Great Britain, misconceptions about how serious, how widespread and how dangerous the crime really is remain common, and those misconceptions have real consequences for how willing people are to report it.
Just 17% currently believe energy theft is a significant, nationwide problem. That uncertainty shapes how seriously the crime gets taken and how willing people are to do something about it.
Here is what the research found.
Myth 1: Energy Theft Isn’t That Serious
Almost half the public, 48%, don’t see energy theft as something that affects daily life, against 19% who agree it does and 33% who are unsure. One in five people agree energy theft is unlikely to be happening anywhere near where they live.
One in four think energy theft is harmless, until it triggers something dangerous, such as a fire. Two in five believe that if it were really that dangerous, it would be reported more widely.
Part of this comes down to a genuine gap in understanding how widespread the problem really is. The largest single group, 35%, think energy theft only affects certain areas. Just 5% think it’s a nationwide issue affecting all communities, and only 12% see it as a significant problem affecting many areas. Another 35% say they are simply not sure.
That uncertainty matters. If the scale of the problem is not understood, it is harder to recognise it as relevant, and harder to feel any personal responsibility for reporting it.
The reality is that energy theft is a nationwide problem. Meter tampering is incredibly dangerous long before anything visibly goes wrong. Loose or exposed wiring from a tampered electricity meter can overheat and catch alight. Electricity theft can cause switches and appliances to become live to the touch, putting anyone who uses them at risk of severe burns or electric shock.
Tampered gas meters or supplies can cause dangerous leaks. Natural gas becomes highly explosive when it reaches a concentration of 5-15% in air - known as the flammable range. A light switch, a cooker spark, match or even static from clothing can result in a catastrophic explosion.
These risks are present before any visible signs appear, which is part of why the danger is so frequently underestimated. Energy theft has resulted in fatal house fires and tragedies. You can read real-life stories here.
Energy theft is not uncommon, either. It costs the UK an estimated £1.4 billion every year, and reports to Stay Energy Safe rose 9% year on year in 2025 alone, with 13,796 reports made via phone and online.
Myth 2: People Only Steal Energy Out of Necessity
Of everyone surveyed, 61% said that given current energy bill levels, it is easy to understand why some people steal energy. 38% believe people who do it are acting out of financial necessity rather than dishonesty, against 29% who disagree and 33% who are neutral.
The cost-of-living pressures many households face are real, and it is understandable that people feel sympathy for those struggling to keep up with energy bills. However, the financial circumstances behind energy theft do not change its physical dangers.
A meter that has been tampered with presents the same risks regardless of the reason it was interfered with. Those risks include fire, electric shock and explosion, and they extend to neighbouring properties and anyone else in the building.
It is also worth noting that meter tampering is frequently associated with wider criminal activity rather than isolated financial hardship. Eight in ten people surveyed already link energy theft to other criminal activity: 61% to illegal housing or unsafe subletting, 56% to drug production or supply, 47% to fraud or other financial crime, 40% to organised crime groups, 32% to other illegal activities, and 24% to money laundering. Only 4% think energy theft is not linked to other crime at all.
You can read about how energy theft is linked to cannabis farms and human trafficking here.
The danger energy theft creates for others is the same regardless of the motivation behind it. Those risks fall on neighbours and communities as much as on the person responsible.
If you are struggling with high energy bills, it’s important to look for safe, legal support. You can find out more about support schemes, grants and advice here.
Myth 3: If It Doesn’t Affect Me, It’s Not My Problem
49% of the Great British public say they would only worry about energy theft if it affected their own household directly. Two-thirds believe tackling it is mainly the job of energy companies and authorities, not the public. Only a third think it’s any of their concern what a neighbour does with their own meter, with 36% agreeing it’s none of their business, 29% remaining neutral, and 35% disagreeing.
In practice, energy theft does affect people beyond the household where it occurs. A tampered meter in a neighbouring flat, a converted garage or a nearby property can cause a fire that spreads. In terraced housing or blocks of flats, the physical risks do not stay contained to one address.
There is also a financial impact on other households. 66% of people surveyed correctly identified that honest households end up paying more because of energy theft. Others were less certain about where the cost lands: 18% admit they don’t know who ultimately pays, 16% believe energy companies absorb the cost themselves, 10% think everyone pays such a small amount it’s barely noticed, 6% think the government covers it, and 1% think nobody pays at all.
In reality, it is estimated that energy theft adds around £50 a year to the average household bill and costs Great Britain £1.4 billion. That cost is absorbed into everyone else’s tariff.
Reporting a suspicion is not the same as making an accusation. Many people already recognise this: one in four people disagree with the idea that reporting energy theft causes more trouble than it’s worth. The bigger barrier is confidence rather than reluctance. 68% of people think energy theft is difficult to identify without specialist knowledge.
In practice, many warning signs are visible without technical expertise, including damaged meter seals, exposed wiring, burning smells or a meter that has stopped moving.
Signs aren’t always visual. Reports are often based on something suspicious that someone says or that you overhear, whether that’s people boasting about not paying for energy or offering to arrange the same for others.
Learn how to spot the signs of energy theft here.
Myth 4: It’s Safe if You Know What You’re Doing
One in five people believe that a qualified electrician or gas engineer can safely interfere with a meter themselves. However, this is not the case.
Gas and electric meters are part of a wider, regulated energy system and are not simply pieces of equipment that anyone can legally work on. Anyone carrying out metering work must have the appropriate authorisation, accreditation and competence for the specific work involved. The work also needs to be arranged and authorised through the relevant energy supplier or an accredited safe isolation provider.
Being an electrician or Gas Safe registered engineer does not mean that someone is authorised or qualified to carry out metering work, although they may be able to carry out certain tests or other work at the meter position.
The public largely understands this already. Only one in ten people feel a sense of ownership over their own meter. 11% agree they should be able to do what they like with it, but 69% disagree.
However, the assumption that professional skill makes tampering safe is not correct. Incorrect connections can cause fires, electric shocks or gas-related incidents regardless of the experience of the person carrying out the work. Unauthorised interference with a meter is illegal regardless of who carries it out.
Myth 5: Energy Theft Has Very Few Legal Consequences
83% of people correctly recognise that energy meter tampering is a criminal offence, with only 3% disagreeing. However, the research shows that most people underestimate how serious the consequences actually are.
Only a third of people believe energy theft can lead to a prison sentence. 63% assume the consequences stop at a fine, 62% at repaying the cost of the stolen energy, 57% at a criminal record. 50% expect the consequences to be a bill for fixing the meter, 47% expect arrest, 32% expect their supply to be disconnected, and 25% expect nothing more than a warning.
In reality, energy theft carries consequences of up to 5 years in prison, alongside fines, repaying the cost of the stolen energy, the cost of the investigation, and the cost of making the metering equipment safe again.
Energy theft was also ranked as the lowest risk to local communities out of five commonly tolerated crimes, behind anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, fly-tipping and benefit fraud. That ranking does not reflect reality. Unlike most of the crimes it was compared against, energy theft carries potential risk to life as well as financial and social costs.
What the Public Wants to See
When asked how energy theft should be tackled, respondents indicated support for a combination of stronger enforcement and greater support for those struggling with bills. In order of priority, they ranked the following approaches:
- Stronger penalties once energy theft is discovered
- Professional inspections catching problems before they become serious
- Support for people struggling to afford energy
- A confidential reporting service for people with suspicions or information
- People understanding the real risks involved
- Clear advice on how to recognise and report danger
When shown data on the financial cost of energy theft, two-thirds of respondents, 67%, said they felt angry, frustrated or shocked. Half expressed a sense of unfairness that honest households absorb the cost. 17% felt energy companies should be doing more to address the problem. 6% said they weren’t surprised, framing it as just another crime that tends to go unpunished.
The research suggests that awareness, rather than indifference, is the primary barrier. Where people understand the scale, the cost and the danger of energy theft, their response is consistent: they think it’s important and they want it addressed.
Report Energy Theft
Energy theft isn’t a low-level inconvenience, a victimless shortcut or someone else’s problem. It’s a crime that puts real people in real danger, and adds to the bills of every honest household.
If you suspect meter tampering or energy theft, report it 100% anonymously to Stay Energy Safe by calling 0800 023 2777 or filling out the simple online form.
You do not need to be certain. Even a small piece of information could prevent a tragedy.