To get an idea of how important it is to combat this societal indiscipline, suffice it to say that in Villa Clara alone thus far this year 2,703 frauds have been detected, meaning that more than 4,595 MWh per year are lost, based on an average of 149 kWh stolen in every scam, according to statistics from the region's Electric Utility.

According to Mailyn Medel, principal specialist in the utility's commercial division, each fraudulent transfer costs the Cuban economy some 306 CUC [Cuban Convertible Pesos], meaning that the total damages add up to millions.

The inspectors report that among the most common activities are disconnecting or manipulating the meter, using a great variety of artifacts such as magnets or other objects to impede the movement of the dial that records the current, as well as connecting to the service at a point where consumption cannot be measured.

Luis Fidel Pulido, an inspector in Santa Clara who has more than 15 years on the job, comments that he has seen every type of activity, especially by people who have air conditioners, mills to process grains, repair shops, and welding equipment.

"When the cheating is discovered the client invents justifications, tries to deny everything to the very end, and sometimes threatens us, which is why we have to use every bit of science and the necessary arguments to prove the infraction," Pulido states.

According to Gregorio Baleato, who heads the Management Center of the Electric Utility in the area, a number of actions have been launched in recent months to try to halt this scourge because of the damage it does to the country's economy.

Among the measures, he mentions that each month four inspections targeting this form of fraud are carried out in those municipalities with the highest incidences, although the other municipalities are also included. In addition, more nighttime checks are being carried out during the hours when it is easier to detect a greater number of alterations.

They have also sped up replacing obsolete meters with other modern electronic devices that are more precise and less vulnerable to tampering because they are enclosed in a sealed casing. Thus far 26,160 of an annual plan of 29,000 have been installed.

Another of the measures adopted is the inspection and replacement of metering devices at the establishments of the self-employed, based on evidence that a considerable number of the criminal deeds of this type are in fact committed by such persons.

END THE IMPUNITY

In the opinion of Mercedes Ferrer Guerra, director of the UEB [Basic Economic Unit] for Inspection and Control at the Electric Utility in Villa Clara, "although in recent months there has been an increase in the number of violations detected, we are still far from really knowing how many clients engage in such reprehensible conduct.

"We have a body of inspectors with great experience in this work, although there are not enough to carry out the number of inspections required to put an end to the phenomenon," the official states, noting that among the penalties applied against those committing infractions are the measures stipulated in Decree Law 260.

That law stipulates, among other measures, the levying of a fine of 500 pesos and the cutting of service for 72 hours for those who manipulate, change, or alter the measuring devices and the service connection and hinder the proper functioning of the equipment. If there is a repetition, a fine of 1,000 pesos will be imposed and service will be cut for 15 days.

Regardless of whether these measures are applied, the offending party will be obliged to retroactively pay for the electrical energy used for up to one year, according to the directive.

In the event of repeated violations of the prohibitions established in the decree, electrical service can be cut for a period of time up to six months.

When the infraction is committed by a consumer in order to engage in private nonresidential activities, in addition to applying the judicial rules, the additional measure of revoking the applicable license for a term of not less than six months will be applied, which can be extended to permanent license revocation.

Applying these and other measures is one aspect in confronting this harmful phenomenon; and is also part of the struggle to gain respect for legality and order in the country.
================================

NELSON VALDES wrote:
The Unidad Basica Empresarial works WITHIN each production/service center.
As the name implies, it is run like an enterprise within the work place.
Thus, if a unit produces refrigerators, each department might have a UBE.
The relations within departments are mercantile in nature. Thus, there are
commercial transactions within the production unit.

Huge implications.

department A (raw materials)
department B (assembly)
department C (sales)
department D etc

A sells to B who sells to C who sells to D.

Money changes from each department. it tries to determine who works in time,
who shows profit, etc.

Thus, workers are  provided with added incentive within their own area.

The system is very complex.

http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2009/11/03/nacional/artic01.html

La Habana, martes 3 de noviembre de 2009. Año 13 / Número 308

“Chivos” que cuestan millones

Enfrentar el fraude eléctrico constituye una tarea vital de los trabajadores del sector, asegura el inspector Luis Fidel Pulido.

DETENER LA IMPUNIDAD

Para Mercedes Ferrer Guerra, la directora de la UEB de Supervisión y Control de la Empresa Eléctrica en Villa Clara, si bien en los últimos meses se ha incrementado la cifra de violaciones detectadas, aún estamos lejos de conocer verdaderamente cuántos clientes asumen estas reprochables conductas.

Contamos con un cuerpo de supervisores de mucha experiencia en esta labor, aunque insuficientes para llevar a cabo la cantidad de inspecciones requeridas para detener el fenómeno, asegura la funcionaria, quien destaca que entre las medidas aplicadas a los infractores figuran las dispuestas en el Decreto Ley 260.

En el mismo quedan establecidas, entre otras disposiciones, la imposición de una multa de 500 pesos y el retiro del servicio por 72 horas a quien manipule, cambie o altere el equipo de medida y la acometida del servicio e impida el correcto funcionamiento del dispositivo. Si reincide, la multa a imponer será de 1 000 pesos y el retiro del servicio por 15 días.

Con independencia de la aplicación de estas medidas, el infractor estará obligado al pago retroactivo de la energía eléctrica sustraída hasta un año, aclara la directiva.

En caso de reincidencia reiterada de las contravenciones establecidas en el Decreto, podrá retirarse el servicio eléctrico por un periodo de tiempo de hasta seis meses.

Cuando la infracción sea cometida por un consumidor en el ejercicio de actividades privadas no residenciales, con independencia de la aplicación de lo regulado en la normativa jurídica, se le aplicará la medida accesoria del retiro de la licencia correspondiente por un término no menor de seis meses, pudiendo extenderse hasta su retiro definitivo.

La aplicación de estas y otras medidas forman parte del enfrentamiento a este nocivo fenómeno; y también a la lucha por el respeto a la legalidad y el orden en el país.