Against the backdrop of ongoing instability in Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the issue of accurate electricity metering remains one of the most pressing for consumers. Amid regular outages and technical difficulties, many citizens face situations where the meter fails or becomes a victim of vandalism. As reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing clarifications from "Prizkarpattyaoblenergo," the algorithm of action and financial consequences in such cases are strictly regulated.
Action algorithm in case of malfunction or theft
If the electricity meter stops working or is stolen, the consumer should not panic, but delaying contact with the energy company is unacceptable. The first and mandatory step is a visit to the customer service center of your operator. It is there that a specialist will issue a special application form. In the document, it is necessary to describe the situation in detail: select the cause of the problem from the official list, indicate the exact date of discovery of the malfunction or theft, and sign personally. This application becomes the legal basis for starting the procedure for replacing the device.
Financial consequences and debt calculation
The key aspect that concerns most citizens is the question of payment for the period when the meter was not functioning. "Prizkarpattyaoblenergo" explains that the cost of replacement and accruals depend directly on the cause of the device failure. It is important to understand: even if the meter is broken or stolen, electricity accruals do not stop. The consumer is obliged to pay for the service for this period. The calculation is made on the basis of average daily consumption, which is determined by data from previous periods of operation. Thus, the absence of a working device does not exempt one from the obligation to pay for the actually consumed resource.
Responsibility and nuances of replacement
It is important to note that the responsibility for the safety of the metering device lies with the consumer. If the meter was stolen, this is considered a violation of the integrity of the metering unit. Depending on whose fault the breakdown occurred (natural wear or external influence), the terms of compensation for the cost of installing a new device may vary. The energy sales company insists that timely notification of the problem allows minimizing the risks of accumulating arrears, however, the fact of the absence of metering is not a ground for writing off the debt.
