Czech Energy Supplier Heavy Handed

It may look like a military training camp.

In fact these are members of the Czech Republic’s biggest energy supplier getting a few tips on how to deal with people they suspect have been illegally tapping into the power supply.

Allegations of strong-arm tactics have now led to charges against 26 CEZ staff.

Those on the receiving end of a visit by Karel Vanis’s non-technical loss team accuse them of abusing their position.

[Unidentified CEZ customer]:

„We had to wait in the yard at four o’clock in the morning.  Mr Vanis didn’t have any calculations, he was just playing with his

calculator.“

Karel Vanis says the military-style training was a response to the threats of violence he says his team endured trying to do their job.

[Karel Vanis, CEZ Non-technical Loss Dept.]:

„I was personally threatened with a gun to my head during a routine meter check.“

The company says it loses millions of dollars a year to electricity theft.

But its spokesman says their policy is to call in the police once they’re sure of their ground.

[Martin Pavlicek, CEZ spokesman]:

[We call the police in all cases where we find unauthorised energy syphoning.  I would like to emphasise that we only confirm that there is unauthorised usage, the rest of the search is left to the police and the court decides on guilt.“

The power firm could be in for another jolt — some of those who say they’ve been victims of its activities have launched a legal battle for compensation.

Foto: NTDTV