Electricity Today T&D Magazine

How utilities can stand firm to save money and save lives

BY PHILL FELTHAM, Executive Editor
Electricity Today Magazine

Copper theft has become a growing problem for utilities in Canada and the United States. This precious metal has increased in value in recent years, so thieves are stripping copper from substations and power lines to make money. Unfortunately, copper theft does more than cost millions of dollars in damage for utilities; it costs lives as well. The serious impact of copper theft has caused governments, utilities, and power sector organizations to take notice. In fact, the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA), for example, recently released a white paper entitled, “Copper Theft from Canada’s Electricity Infrastructure”. The paper details just how damaging copper theft has been to Canada’s power industry and its customers. Here are a few examples from that paper.

THEFTS ENDANGER CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Copper theft can place...