Energy and Copper Theft

Energy theft

Energy theft, also called energy diversion, occurs when individuals tamper with electric meters or electric power lines. Energy theft is illegal, costly, and it can be fatal. PNM is committed to stopping it, but we need your help.

While honest customers are working hard to conserve energy and cut energy costs, energy thieves are tampering with service lines and meters. Energy theft ranges from tapping into a neighbor's energy source to illegally adjusting a meter. Meter tampering occurs in homes, grocery stores, restaurants and other commercial establishments. It can lead to losses in revenue that result in increased rates for everyone.

Tampering with meters and other utility equipment can cause shock or electrocution, and damaged meters may cause fires or explosions. 
PNM monitors suspicious accounts and meter readers and other field personnel are trained to recognize tampering and hazardous hookups. 

Report energy theft

It is against the law to tamper with or to reconnect electric meters that have been disconnected by PNM; or to knowingly consume electricity which has not been correctly metered because of tampering. 

If you suspect an energy theft has occurred, call us at 888-DIAL-PNM so we can investigate. You may contact us anonymously; all information is kept confidential.

Copper theft

Stealing copper is dangerous, and it is a crime.

Copper theft is a national issue that plagues residents, utilities and businesses every year. High copper prices entice criminals to steal metals from homes, businesses, scrap sites, and utilities. Not only is copper theft illegal and can sometimes cost customers thousands of dollars to replace, but it also poses a serious safety hazard to the public. 

Thieves recklessly steal copper, leaving electrical wires and equipment damaged and exposed. Customers pose a risk of shock or electrocution if they were to come in contact with these wires, and the situation puts PNM employees at risk as well. Streetlights are a popular place for criminals to steal copper from, but the result leads to severely damaged wiring and equipment that can take weeks to replace, and cause streetlight outages. When thieves risk stealing from PNM properties like substations, the results can be deadly and cause extreme damage to electrical equipment, resulting in power outages affecting PNM customers. 

How can you help?

PNM works diligently with local law enforcement to prevent this crime, but we ask that customers keep an eye out for copper theft in their areas. We have proudly been collaborating with Albuquerque Metropolitan Crime Stoppers for many years to fund tips that lead to copper theft arrests. Copper theft is costing Albuquerque taxpayers thousands of dollars yearly, and arrests are paramount to preventing this costly crime. If anyone has information on copper theft they can call Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP (7867). Anonymous tips can also be submitted at P3tips.com. 

Help us by reporting any suspicious activity at our substations or other facilities by calling 888-DIAL-PNM. 

If you are a business owner, and have been a victim of copper theft, there are steps you should take:

1. Do not touch the transformer or meter, or any wires. Even if there is not arcing or sparking, the wires may still be energized and pose a serious safety hazard.
2. Contact PNM Customer Service at 505-246-5700 so that we can then send a crew to make the area safe.
3. The business owner will need to hire a licensed electrician to do the repair work. This is not work that PNM performs. It is the responsibility of the business owner to hire an electrician who has a valid journeyman license and liability insurance. That electrician will need to provide:
   a)  A copy of liability insurance
   b) Their EE98J license (journeyman license) 
   c) A completed Access to PNM Equipment Form
4. Please complete the Equipment Access Request Form online and upload the documents.  

If a contractor does not wish to complete the Equipment Access Request Form online, please visit one of our Service Center locations to complete the form, provide the required documents, and sign the Access to PNM Equipment Form in-person. Service Center locations can be found on page 11 of the Electric Service Guide.

How can businesses protect themselves from thieves?

There are protective devices that businesses can purchase that barricade the doors to transformers and meters; covering their locks and handles to prevent access. Welding is not allowed on the meter box, transformer, or any other PNM equipment. Do not weld the meter box or transformer doors shut, or completely enclose the equipment in a cage, unless PNM has access to any locks on the cages and proper door clearance is maintained. We require access to our equipment at any time of day or night, so once a business places this equipment on their transformer or meter, PNM must be notified so a PNM-approved lock can be added to the theft-prevention barricade. 

If you need additional information, guidance, or allowances in respect to the barricades shown, please submit your inquiries to:  Armando.Najera@pnm.com

Copper Theft Seminar 2022

Below are the presentations from the September 21, 2022 Copper Theft Seminar

In the News

PNM, Crime Stoppers partner to raise awareness about copper theft in New Mexico. Read Press Release