ComEd Works with Will County Authorities on Electricity Theft Case

CHICAGO, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ComEd today issued a reminder about the public safety risks associated with stealing electricity, an illegal activity that led to the arrest and conviction of a Wilmington, Ill., man who was charged with violation of the Illinois Public Utility Act.

The individual, who had been bypassing the company's electric meter and stealing electricity at his residence, was arrested July 14 after ComEd's Revenue Protection department registered a complaint with law enforcement authorities. The man, whose service had been suspended for non-payment, was convicted during an appearance today in Will County Circuit Court.

ComEd's Security Department alerted law enforcement authorities after receiving an anonymous tip that the man was stealing electricity. In addition to criminal prosecution, ComEd plans to seek restitution from the man, who was fined $250. The company estimates the individual's theft amounted to about $4,300 in electricity and delivery charges.

"Energy theft is a tremendous cost for utility companies across the United States," said Chuck Walls, vice president, Customer Financial Operations, ComEd. "Not only is energy theft illegal it is also a safety threat - to those who tamper with electric utility equipment, to the general public and to utility workers who can be injured or killed by hazards left behind by the culprit. ComEd will continue to work with law enforcement authorities to prosecute energy thieves to the fullest extent of the law and hopefully deter others from committing this illegal and unsafe act."

In a similar case, a Chicago man entered a guilty plea Aug. 25 in Cook County Circuit Court on a charge of violating the Illinois Public Utility Act. He was arrested after a police officer observed him tampering with a meter on a building on Chicago's West Side. The man, whose service had been suspended for non-payment, owes ComEd more than $13,000 for previous accounts and other charges.

"This condition put the occupant's home at risk, as well as other homes along the block," said Paul Unruh, manager, Revenue Investigations, ComEd, whose department investigates reports of meter tampering, illegal electric connections and related acts.

ComEd urges anyone with information regarding theft of electricity or other suspicious activity that could pose a threat to public safety to contact the ComEd at 1-800-EDISON-1 (1-800-334-7661). Tips can be made anonymously. In case of an emergency, call 911.

ComEd realizes that some customers are experiencing financial difficulty - perhaps for the first time during the current economic downturn - and that they may have trouble paying their utility bills. ComEd CARE offers a $15 million portfolio of initiatives that provide assistance and information to help customers in need or in special circumstances manage their electric bills. For more information about our assistance programs, customers should call 1-800-EDISON-1.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation's largest electric utilities with approximately 5.4 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.

SOURCE ComEd

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