The escalating value of copper is resulting in costly problems and potential outages for utility companies and can even lead to the death or injury of the thieves themselves. Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative, Inc., like other electric utilities, is experiencing problems due to rising copper thefts.

GCEC, along with other utilities, is apprehensive about these great monetary losses for supplies and labor, as the additional replacement costs are typically passed on to the company’s consumers. In the end, utility customers are paying for these needless criminal acts. Also, these same customers are the ones affected by the possible outages.

Some thieves are so intent on getting copper they have risked injury and death when trying to strip the metal from live electrical components in substations or on distribution lines. Thieves and vandals are entering energized substations without the proper equipment and are taking their lives into their own hands by attempting to gather the copper from the facility and even from under ground. Any contact with equipment inside a substation or an electric power line is extremely dangerous given the very high voltages present in any such facilities.

Nationwide, numerous deaths have occurred this year related to copper thefts from electric utility facilities. Other theft attempts across the nation have caused power interruptions and thousands of dollars of damage. Outages are certainly not a welcomed experience by those in the affected areas.

Copper is used for the grounding of equipment within electrical substations and along electric power lines. It serves as a protection for the crews working on equipment within an energized substation. Without the copper, crews would not be able to work at a substation facility without halting the flow of power, which in turn would lead to maintenance outages.

Even though GCEC has experienced great losses of both time and equipment, the primary concern is safety.  Our primary interest lies within our concern for the lives of these thieves, these thefts are a nuisance to customers, are expensive for GCEC and can be deadly to the thieves.

Local and state governments have taken notice. The Texas Legislature recently increased oversight of the secondary metals markets and increased penalties up to state jail felonies for certain cases of copper theft. Copper criminals are not only breaking the law, they’re endangering their lives and others.

Residents are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement officials if they see suspicious activity around GCEC’s distribution lines and substations. GCEC officials are working closely with area law enforcement agencies in an effort to stop these thefts and acts of vandalism.