A Winnipeg woman faces charges of mischief and theft after police say she tampered with a hydro meter to use more electricity than she was allowed and without paying for it.
Manitoba Hydro had placed a load-limiting device on the meter at the woman’s Glenwood neighbourhood home in March, due to her failing to pay her bills, a news release from police said.
The limiter restricts hydro use to the operation of a furnace during winter months, police said.
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About two weeks later, once the account was paid, a hydro worker went to remove the limiter but found it had been forcibly removed, allowing power theft, the release said.
The 46-year-old woman was arrested this week, police said.
Hydro has seen “significant increases of electrical meter tampering and theft” in recent years and will report any incident to police for potential criminal charges, the release said.