The grounding wire completes the circuit and connects the live wire to the ground. It`s a short circuit. The washing machine no longer works because no electricity flows through the engine. A fifty-two-year-old resident of Doornbach, who celebrated the end of illegal connections in the settlement, said she had lived there for 18 years and had never received municipal services from the city. The reason for this was that they had originally settled on private land, which meant that the city could not install services on private land within the meaning of national legislation. However, the city bought the property in May 2011 and so Eskom was able to start supplying electricity to households in Doornbach. The fifty-two-year-old was very excited to be able to use an iron and set up a refrigerator. Activity: Case Study of Illegal Power Connections The residual current circuit breaker is a safety device that can cut off the power supply to the home. The grounding leak can detect if current is moving through the grounding wire. If the current flows through the grounding wire, there is a short circuit somewhere, for example as explained with the washing machine. The residual current circuit breaker then shuts off all the power as a safety measure. There is a reset button that can be pressed to tighten the contacts together when the error is resolved and it is safe to plug the power back in. If there are signs of suspected electricity fraud, contact your local distribution company.
This can be reported anonymously. After reading this article, what do you think is the main reason why the people of Doornbach initially made illegal connections? Eskom is not paid for electricity consumed by residents. This means that they lose money because they indirectly provide electricity. In addition, in the event of electrical fraud, it is normal for the electricity supplier to cut off the electricity at this supply point. In this case, there is a fee to reconnect the service. Of course, it`s not worth trying to reduce electricity consumption through electricity fraud. There are legal alternatives to this, such as those you can learn from the Easy Power plan. Read the Easy Feeding Plan review for more information. One suggestion is to invite a certified electrician to share case studies on the dangers of faulty electricity and briefly discuss legislation to certify a home before it is sold. What were some of the physical dangers of illegal connections in Doornbach? In addition to the mass of wires that passed through the informal settlement, many wires had been stretched across Potsdamer Straße, the main street.
It was very dangerous because the wires hung very low and often got stuck and torn on passing trucks. Fire threats and electric shocks from passers-by and vehicles were also a safety concern. Using legal electricity will also help prevent hut fires, as residents rely less on candles and paraffin stoves. Informal settlement Doornbach celebrates electricity supply An illegal electricity connection is the illegal modification of the electricity system and the electricity transmission network in order to pay less (or simply not pay) for the energy consumed. You don`t have to adapt to Endesa`s rates, because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalog, you can compare the different rates yourself. Or if you wish, answer a few questions and we will compare the different electricity and gas tariffs and then give you a tailor-made recommendation. Contact your local distribution company if there are signs of suspected electricity fraud. This is reported anonymously. It is often an “invisible” crime.
Someone illegally connects to a power source, plugs in a line that has been disconnected, or tampers with a meter to avoid recording electricity consumption. Legitimate electricity consumers do not engage in these behaviors, so the effects of electricity theft – including danger – are often not recognized. The best way to tell if someone is stealing electricity is to focus on consumption, as this is the most typical of an illegal connection from the meter room. If there is anything unusual on the bill, ask your utility why it might be. You will also do your own checks, in this case, the next step is to go to the meter room and follow these steps: some people make money by providing illegal connections, and others have no legal way to access electricity and therefore resort to illegal connections. Others have access to legal electricity but prefer not to have to pay for it. These types of electrical connections are not only illegal and considered energy theft, they are also very dangerous, as you will see in the next activity. If the electricity contract is concluded with Endesa, E-Distribución offers three ways to report fraud to its customers: by telephone at the toll-free number 800 760 220; by email, at “anomalias@endesa.es” or via a web form. A threat to public safety and energy fraud is what illegal connections are.
We explain what you want to try to do if you need to discover one. When the switch is switched on, current flows through the device, from the left through the mobile contact and to the stationary contact. It then goes around the electromagnet and comes out on the other side. The iron closure holds the movable contact in place so that the circuit is complete. As the current flowing through the circuit breaker increases, the electromagnet becomes stronger. When the current reaches a dangerous level, the electromagnet becomes strong enough to pull the iron trap. This frees the moving contact so that the circuit is interrupted and the power is cut off, as shown in the following diagram. Besides the physical dangers associated with illegal electrical connections, why are they illegal? Circuit breakers are one of the most important safety features in our homes today.
Without circuit breakers, electricity in our homes and buildings could be dangerous due to the risk of fire and other safety risks due to electrical cable faults and equipment failures. The punishment for the crime of electricity fraud via an illegal connection is high and is no joke. If the fraud exceeds the value of 400 euros, it can be punished by several months in prison and the fine can vary between 1,000 and 2,000 euros. If it is not possible to know the figure deceived, the law stipulates that the amount to be charged is 100% of the electrical energy contracted last year for 6 hours a day. Live and neutral wires provide the potential difference needed to allow the motor to run in the washing machine. The grounding wire is connected to the metal housing of the washing machine. The three wires are enclosed in plastic insulation to form a cable that connects to the wall electrical network.
