Tamper detection Smart meters have a tamper detection feature that automatically notifies BC Hydro if they have been removed from the wall or otherwise manipulated.

FORBES: Electricity Theft: A Bigger Issue Than You Think

Although BC Hydro has identified over 2, 600 electricity thefts over the past five years, identifying and confirming theft is a time-consuming, inefficient and expensive manual process.

FORBES: Electricity Theft: A Bigger Issue Than You Think

Damage to the grid: Power surges and electrical system failure due to high loads can cause power outages and damage to BC Hydro equipment and infrastructure, including the premature failure of distribution transformers.

FORBES: Electricity Theft: A Bigger Issue Than You Think

Companies the FERC accuses of gaming include Sempra Energy (nyse: SRE - news - people ), Canadian provincial utility BC Hydro, Avista (nyse: AVA - news - people ), American Electric Power (nyse: AEP - news - people ), Duke Energy (nyse: DUK - news - people ), Mirant (nyse: MIR - news - people ), Dynegy (nyse: DYN - news - people ), Calpine (nyse: CPN - news - people ), Reliant, Williams Cos. (nyse: WMB - news - people ) and Constellation Energy Group (nyse: CEG - news - people ).

FORBES: In California Energy Crisis, Some Dogs Still Bark