Manipulating electricity meters with a magnet - does it really work?

Magnets and electricity meters

Sometimes, when you go down to the basement and look at your electricity meter as you walk by, you might almost get dizzy. The many electrical consumers in our households are creating an ever-increasing demand for electricity. Of course, this also hits the wallet. And since the energy companies continue to increase the cost of electricity almost every year, some people wonder what tricks they could use to save some of the cost of electricity.

Stop electricity meter with a magnet

Some people get silly ideas in this context. How about, for example, simply stopping the domestic electricity meter or letting it run a little slower. The electricity consumption is therefore not reduced, only the documentation of this electricity consumption - in the form of the aforementioned electricity meter - is manipulated accordingly. Of course, the whole thing is illegal by law. Some contemporaries nevertheless wonder how such a thing could be possible.

For years, a story about this has been circulating in the media. Roughly speaking, this story says: With a Magnetsit is possible to manipulate the domestic electricity meter in such a way that it is stopped or runs significantly slower, thus saving you a large part of the electricity costs actually incurred. But is this just a robber's tale, or is there actually something to this story? We have gone in search of clues and would like to clarify the whole thing here.

Basically, with a conventional ferromagnet, you will hardly be able to manipulate an electricity meter so that it runs more slowly or even stops completely. The magnetic force is simply too low for this. The situation is different with so-called super magnets, for example made of the material neodymium. It can certainly have an effect on the function of the electricity meter, but in this case the following usually applies: Either the electricity meter still functions normally or it is defective. The reason for this is the relatively high heat generated by the Application of a Magnets occurs inside the electricity meter. This can cause voltage poles to melt and the meter to stop. The problem is that you now have a defective electricity meter that you cannot repair, at least not by conventional means. You are therefore obliged to inform your electricity supplier of the defect, or he will notice it himself at the latest at the next meter reading. If it turns out that you have repaired the defect with a Magnet have caused themselves, this could have sensitive legal consequences. More on this in a moment.

In addition a warning

Some very detailed instructions are circulating on the Internet on how to manipulate an electricity meter. In some cases, these instructions even involve drilling holes in various parts of the meter in order to Magnets to place. Such a procedure is not only legally illegal, it can also cause extreme health hazards. Electric shocks, even fatal, can be the devastating consequences. So never use such a guide to try to influence the course of your electricity meter.

The Attaching a neodymium magnet on the electricity meter can cause it to stop working at all after some time. Tests have shown that a slowing down of the running of the electricity meter with a magnet can usually not be achieved. Thus, all the instructions and recommendations on the Internet are ultimately humbug, because they do not achieve the desired effect.

The legal side

It's already been touched on: Tampering with an electricity meter can have serious legal consequences. Anyone who thinks that the electricity companies consider such an attempt to be a trivial offence is usually very much mistaken. It is a matter of making an example for the companies! They want to show with their hard action that they do not put up with manipulation - no matter what kind. Therefore, you must 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 electricity companies to directly detect a manipulated electricity meter. It is always the same defects that occur with manipulation attempts, including those with magnets. Thus, these defects are already known to the inspectors and meter readers and are usually interpreted correctly immediately.

Legal

Legally, electricity meter tampering is considered attempted or even completed fraud. In other words, you are trying to obtain a service without having to pay the contractually agreed price for this service. Thus, if an attempt at manipulation on the part of the electricity provider is discovered, criminal charges will usually be brought against you for attempted or actual fraud. In this case, you must expect to receive a summons from the responsible police after some time in order to comment on the criminal complaint. By the way, it does not matter whether you admit to the attempted fraud or come up with an excuse, i.e. deny your guilt. The police will record the statements and then forward the case to the public prosecutor's office, as they are legally obliged to do. The prosecutor's office will then decide whether to drop the case or open a case against you based on your statements and the information provided by the electricity company. As you can see: The whole thing is a very unpleasant matter, which can sometimes even end up in a criminal court. So it's better to leave it alone!

Or do you think that a manipulation would at best be noticed during the next reading, so that you can cover it up in time?

Here, too, we have to disappoint you. The electricity companies have several possibilities to detect manipulations even from a distance. In addition, they are entitled to carry out unannounced checks of the electricity meter at any time. If necessary, they can gain access to your premises with a police escort if there are corresponding grounds for suspicion.

Furthermore, the electricity company will, for example, check the differences in the billing of all buildings in your street and can thus determine whether there could be a manipulation of the meter by simply comparing it with the consumption values of your neighbourhood.

Conclusion: Manipulation of the electricity meter is not worth it!

Instead of tampering with the electricity meter, try changing something about your electricity consumption behaviour or switching electricity providers straight away. This is much more sensible and can save you money in the long run, whereas manipulating the electricity meter can end up being very expensive.

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