Reports claim electricity theft has increased by over 75% since 2012 in the United Kingdom. Crypto mining, cannabis farms, and high cost of living are believed to be the three primary reasons for electricity theft.

While cryptocurrency mining is a rewarding business, it is energy-intensive with requirements of high electricity power. Hence, various bad actors have found loopholes to mine crypto by stealing electricity.

Is Crypto Mining Causing a Surge in Electricity Theft?

According to the BBC, there were over 3,500 cases of electricity theft in the UK during 2021-2022. The publication explained the electricity theft:

“Electricity thefts are where meters are tampered with or bypassed to avoid paying for energy.

“It can leave live wires exposed and will often involve bypassing fuse boxes, increasing the risk of appliances overheating or catching fire and death.”

While cases have increased by 75% since 2012, there was a huge surge in electricity stealing activity after the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK.

Charlie Pugsley, the Assistant Commissioner at London Fire Brigade, believes that cannabis farming and crypto mining are behind the surge in the cases of electricity theft. In 2021, the West Midlands Police uncovered an illegal Bitcoin (BTC) mining operation where over 100 devices were connected to bypass the electricity supply.

Read more: How To Build a Mining Rig: A Step-by-Step Guide

Of course, crypto mining is an energy-intensive business that requires huge capital investment to carry out the business operations. With rising mining difficulty and hash rate, some legit crypto mining b

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Author: Harsh Notariya

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