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Tampering with an Electricity Meter Using a Magnet: Does It Really Work?

Can a magnet really slow down or stop your electricity meter? We look at the myth, the risks and the legal consequences.

Magnets and electricity meters

Sometimes, when you go down to the basement and glance at your electricity meter in passing, it can almost make you dizzy. The many electrical appliances in our households lead to an ever greater demand for electricity. Of course, that also hits your wallet. And since the energy companies raise electricity prices almost every year, some people wonder what tricks they could use to save a bit on their electricity costs.

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Stopping an electricity meter with a magnet

Some people get foolish ideas in this context. How about, for example, simply stopping your electricity meter at home or making it run a little slower? Electricity consumption is not actually reduced; only the recording of that consumption, in the form of the electricity meter, is manipulated. Of course, all of this is illegal. Still, some people wonder how such a thing would even be possible.

For years, a story about this has been circulating in the media. Roughly speaking, it goes like this: with a magnet it is possible to manipulate your electricity meter at home so that it stops or runs much more slowly, saving you a large part of the electricity costs you would otherwise pay. But is this just a tall tale, or is there actually something to the story? We went looking for clues and want to clear the matter up here.

As a basic rule: with an ordinary ferromagnet you will hardly be able to manipulate an electricity meter so that it runs slower or even stops completely. The magnetic force is simply too weak for that. It is different with so-called super magnets, for example those made of neodymium. They can indeed affect how the electricity meter works, but in this case the result is usually this: either the meter still works normally or it is broken. The reason is the relatively high heat generated inside the meter by the use of a magnet. This can cause voltage poles to melt, and the meter stops. The problem: you now have a broken electricity meter that you cannot repair, at least not with ordinary means. You are therefore obliged to report the defect to your electricity provider, or the provider will notice it on its own at the next meter reading at the latest. If it turns out that you caused the fault yourself with a magnet, this could have serious legal consequences. More on that in a moment.

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Stopping an electricity meter with a magnet

A word of warning

Some very detailed instructions circulate on the internet on how to supposedly manipulate an electricity meter. Some of these instructions even call for drilling holes in various parts of the meter to place magnets there. Such an approach is not only illegal, it can also pose extreme health risks. Electric shocks, which can even be fatal, may be the devastating result. So never follow such instructions in an attempt to influence how your electricity meter runs.

Attaching a neodymium magnet to an electricity meter can cause it to stop working altogether after a while. Tests have shown that slowing down an electricity meter with a magnet generally cannot be achieved. This means that all the instructions and recommendations on the internet are ultimately nonsense, since they do not deliver the desired effect.

The legal side

As already mentioned, tampering with an electricity meter can have serious legal consequences. Anyone who thinks the energy companies regard such an attempt as a minor offense is usually quite wrong. For the companies, the point is to make an example! With their tough approach, they want to show that they will not tolerate manipulation of any kind. So you have to expect the full force of the law if you have tampered with your electricity meter.

So what could happen? First of all, it is usually no problem at all for the inspectors of the energy companies to recognize a manipulated meter right away. The same defects always occur with manipulation attempts, including those using magnets. These defects are therefore already known to inspectors and meter readers and are usually interpreted correctly right away.

Legally speaking

From a legal point of view, tampering with an electricity meter is considered attempted or even completed fraud. You are trying to obtain a service without paying the contractually agreed price for it. As a result, when a manipulation attempt is discovered, the electricity provider will usually file a criminal complaint for attempted or completed fraud. You must therefore expect, after some time, to receive a summons from the responsible police to respond to the complaint. Incidentally, at first it makes no difference whether you admit the attempted fraud or come up with an excuse and deny your guilt. The police will record the statements and then forward the case to the public prosecutor, as they are legally required to do. The public prosecutor will then decide, based on your statements and the information from the electricity supplier, whether the case is dropped or proceedings are opened against you. As you can see, the whole thing is very unpleasant and may even end up before a criminal court. So better leave it alone!

Or do you think tampering would only be noticed at the next meter reading, so you could cover it up in time?

We have to disappoint you here as well. The energy companies have several ways of detecting manipulation remotely. In addition, they are entitled to carry out unannounced inspections of the electricity meter at any time. If necessary, they can gain access to your premises accompanied by the police if there are grounds for suspicion.

Furthermore, the energy company will, for example, check the billing differences across all buildings on your street and can therefore determine whether a meter may have been tampered with simply by comparing your consumption with that of your neighborhood.

Conclusion: tampering with an electricity meter is not worth it!

Instead of manipulating your electricity meter, try changing your electricity usage habits or simply switch electricity providers. This is far more sensible and can save you money in the long run, whereas tampering with the meter can end up being very expensive.

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