Gas theft – as it exposes others to the risk of loss of health or life – is an offence prosecuted ex officio. This means that anyone who notices gas theft has not so much the right as the obligation to report it to the police.
According to the Energy Law – Article 6 Para. 2 Item 3 – representatives of an energy company which is engaged in the transmission or distribution of fuel gasses or energy, upon presentation of an ID card and written authorisation issued by the competent authority of the energy company engaged in the transmission or distribution of fuel gasses or energy, have the right to collect and secure evidence of a customer’s violation of the terms of use of metering/billing systems and terms of the agreement concluded with the energy company. In accordance with Item 3, an energy company may suspend the supply of fuel gasses, electricity, or heat if as a result of the inspection referred to in Item 2 it was found that:
- a system located at the customer’s location poses a direct threat to life, health, or the environment or
- there has been illegal consumption of fuel gasses, electricity, or heat.
In the event illegal fuel gas collection is dicovered, PSG sp. z o.o. shall charge the perpetrator of the illegal fuel gas collection with a fee calculated according to the guidelines included in the ‘Tariff for fuel gas distribution services and liquefied natural gas regasification services’.
Additionally, a fee is charged for activities related to the discovery of illegal fuel gas consumption according to the rates specified in the above-mentioned Tariff.
People who illegally collect gas are liable under
- the Act of 10 April 1997 – Energy law (i.e. from 2006 Journal of Laws No. 89, item 625, as amended), together with executive acts,
- Act of 6 June 1997 – Criminal Code (Journal of Laws No. 88, item 553, as amended), and
- Act of 23 April 1964 – Civil Code (Dz. U. No. 16, item 93, as amended).
