Bootleggers and Boondoggles- Stealing electricity Kittitas Home Inspection Services

Desperate times will make some take desperate actions.

I was on an inspection a little while back. The homeowner was being evicted for unpaid mortgage. This was a bit of a special case because the note was being held by the previous owners on a private contract.

I was brought in to make an assessment of the current condition of the property since the note holder was from out of town.

The current resident had resorted to camping in the home, literally. But that is another story.

The big issue here was that the meter had been compromised and bypassed.  Electricity theft is an ongoing problem for all electricity providers. If caught this is punishable by jail time, a fine or both in the United States.  With many of the meters being recorded remotely there may be more opportunity in some areas for utility theft.

The other more important issue is that tampering with live electricity inside a meter is not only very dangerous it could result in a fire, shock or even death. This is a concern for the utility staff because they can be injured when later repairing the meter.

This incident was reported by the Agent with me and will be taken care of but is a reminder of when inspecting homes that care must be taken for one’s own safety.

“Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.”

George S. Patton

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                               509-670-9572