Millions of households across the UK are paying more than their fair share on energy bills – without realising why.
With the cost-of-living crisis still putting pressure on households across the UK, most people are focused on cutting costs wherever they can.
But there’s one hidden cost quietly pushing home energy bills higher.
Energy theft.
Whether it’s bypassing a meter or tampering with a gas supply, energy theft isn’t a victimless crime. The cost of energy theft directly affects the safety and lives of communities across the UK, as well as household bills.
If you’re unfamiliar with what it is, read our comprehensive guide to energy theft here.
How Much Does Energy Theft Really Cost the UK?
The cost of energy theft in the UK is a growing issue.
Energy theft costs UK consumers an estimated £1.4 billion every year. For the average household, that means around £50 is added to annual energy bills.
At a time when every pound matters, that’s money most people can’t afford to lose. That’s half a food shop, or a couple of weeks of heating your home in winter.
Reports of energy theft are also rising. In 2025 alone, Stay Energy Safe received 13,795 reports via phone and online – a 9% increase year on year.
While exact figures are difficult to confirm, thousands of UK properties may be involved in some form of energy theft.
As financial pressure grows, that number could climb. The energy industry has warned that “desperate” households who are unable to pay their bills are increasingly resorting to tampering with their gas and electricity meters to avoid falling deeper into debt.
Why Honest Bill Payers Foot the Bill
Energy suppliers don’t absorb the cost of energy theft indefinitely. Those losses are factored into pricing, similar to supermarkets.
When someone tampers with their meter or illegally bypasses it, they are using energy they never pay for. However, that energy still has to be generated, transported through the network, and paid for somewhere within the system.
The network companies that own the pipes and wires record this as a loss and are allowed by the regulator to recover some of those costs through the charges they bill to energy suppliers.
While suppliers often absorb the initial financial impact, these network costs – including energy losses – can ultimately be factored into the tariffs offered to customers.
Higher prices to cover the cost of energy theft in the UK is another pressure on already stretched budgets.
That’s money you’re paying even if you’ve never missed a payment, cut back on heating use or are doing everything you can to reduce your energy bills.
In simple terms, law-abiding households are subsidising illegal activity.
The Human Cost: More Than Just Money
The financial cost of energy theft is only part of the story.
Energy theft creates serious safety risks – not just for those tampering with meters, but for neighbours, entire buildings and emergency responders.
One recent example of the cost of energy theft is the tragic case highlighted in our real-life story of Leah Casson, who lost her life in a house fire. Her own mother and brother were charged with manslaughter and abstracting electricity.
These incidents don’t just happen ‘somewhere else’ – they happen in ordinary homes, on ordinary streets.
Read more real-life stories here.
Fires, Shocks, Explosions and Carbon Monoxide
The cost of gas and electricity theft becomes dangerously real when energy meters are tampered with.
Tampering with an electric meter can leave wires and connections loose or exposed, and cause multiple switches or appliances to become ‘live’ to the touch, risking severe burns and fatal shocks. Appliances and tampered cables can overheat so much they catch alight.
In flats and terraced housing, fire can spread quickly to neighbouring properties.
Illegal gas connections can cause dangerous gas leaks. Leaking gas is extremely flammable and can be easily ignited. When large amounts build up inside a property, it only takes a small spark – switching on the light or turning on the kettle or hob – to trigger an explosion that could destroy the building, taking neighbouring properties with it.
A mix of just 5% gas in the air is enough to cause a devastating explosion like this.
Carbon monoxide is another hidden danger. It can build up when gas does not burn properly or is used in an area without proper ventilation.
It has no smell and no colour, but can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, confusion, loss of consciousness and potentially, death. It’s also highly flammable.
Learn more about the dangerous cost of gas and electricity theft here.
Vulnerable People Are Most at Risk
Criminals are increasingly targeting people struggling with high bills. You might come across scams where “handymen” offer to reduce energy bills by tampering with meters or bypassing them completely, so they don’t record energy used at all.
Some people are also being misled into believing they can install their own meter to avoid paying for the energy they use.
In reality, these scams and setups are illegal, extremely dangerous and can leave households facing serious safety risks, and a threat to life, as well as prosecution and damaged property.
You can learn more about the different types of energy scams and how to protect yourself here.
One electrician told the BBC how he set up an illegal meter bypass for a friend’s business, only for the shop to burn down weeks later. He used to illegally bypass meters for others, working cash in hand because it was "untraceable", to help keep families warm in winter, or pay for luxuries like hot tubs.
However, he is now warning families struggling to pay energy bills not to commit energy theft and "dice with death" to save money. "I do a lot of inspections and come across DIY tampering most days – often in houses where kids are running about. If they put their hands in the board, they're dead."
If you are struggling with your energy bills, energy theft is never the solution.
Contact your supplier. Under Ofgem rules, they must work with you to agree a payment plan you can afford. You can also ask them for payment breaks, more time to pay and access to hardship funds.
If you’re looking for safe, independent advice on energy efficiency, managing energy debt and accessing grants, Citizens Advice can help.
You can also read our guide to saving money on your energy bills here.
You can also find out about support schemes, discounts and advice to help with energy bills here.
How to Spot Energy Theft
Energy theft isn’t always obvious, but there are warning signs to look out for:
- damaged or missing seals on meters or main fuse
- exposed or unusual wiring or piping
- rubber tubing on gas supplies
- meters running backwards or not moving at all
- burn marks on the meter or cables
- sparks or a smell of burning near the meter
- prepayment meter working when the credit has run out
- the meter is missing or has been swapped
You might notice these signs in homes, workplaces or public spaces like pubs and shops. You might also hear people bragging about how energy theft is saving them money on their energy bills. Or be approached by one of those “handymen” offering a “quick fix”.
If something doesn’t look or sound right, trust your instincts.
The cost of energy theft in the UK goes far beyond money – it affects your safety, and the safety of your loved ones and community.
Report your suspicions to Stay Energy Safe by calling 0800 023 2777 or using the secure online form. Everyone who contacts us will remain 110% anonymous, guaranteed.
Reporting takes minutes. Even the smallest piece of information could help save lives.