Soaring metal prices have been blamed for an increase in thefts of copper and aluminum, primary components of electric distribution lines. The recent thefts of copper wire and equipment from electric utilities have been responsible for power outages, additional maintenance and expenses, diminished system reliability, and, in some cases, serious injury or death.
     Copper in wire is appealing to thieves who seek to sell the metal for scrap. Burglars will often climb power poles, scale fences and break into buildings to steal the precious metal. The soaring prices of metals, including a 363-percent per-pound increase in the price of copper since 2003, have prompted thieves to become bolder and more inventive. Across the United States, several deaths have occurred when thieves attempted to steal wire from utility systems.
     “To a would-be thief, stealing copper may seem like a quick way to make a buck,” said Mary Mulligan-Haines, Communications/Marketing Manager for Northwestern Rural Electric Association, Inc. “But it’s illegal, it’s costly, and it’s not worth a life. Working with any metal and electricity is a dangerous combination, even for trained employees using proper equipment.”
     Thieves may not understand that they are risking their lives by taking copper from substations, where high transmission voltage is stepped down to a lower current for distribution lines. All the lines have a potentially deadly charge.
     Northwestern REC urges you to follow the following guidelines to guard against electrical dangers and prevent copper theft.

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