My Neighbor Was Stealing My Electricity: How Can I Defend Myself and Seek Compensation in 2026?

Not sure how much you can claim from your neighbor? We’ll review your case, help you gather evidence, calculate the damages, and draft a demand for compensation. If your neighbor doesn’t pay, we can also represent you in court.

What Is Unauthorized Electricity Use?

Unauthorized electricity consumption means that someone is using electricity without having a contract with a supplier , or is tampering with the meter to distort the actual consumption.

In practice, however, a situation may also arise where a neighbor secretly connects a cable directly to your outlet or your home’s electrical wiring. If the electricity passes through your meter in this case, it may not constitute unauthorized consumption under the Energy Act, but it is still a serious violation of the law that can be considered a misdemeanor or even a criminal offense of theft. The perpetrator may be not only the person who physically consumes the electricity but also anyone who facilitates such conduct or is aware of it.

How can you prove that a neighbor is stealing electricity?

Proving unauthorized consumption is often complicated because evidence is difficult to gather. Before you take action, it’s important to stay calm and document everything properly.

The most common forms of evidence that can help you succeed in legal proceedings are:

• an inspection report from the utility company or an expert report from an electrician or inspection technician,
• photographic documentation of the connection, damaged seals, or wiring,
• witness statements,
• an expert opinion from an electrical engineer,
• invoice statements and a comparison of consumption over time.

If you suspect that a neighbor is illegally tapping into your electricity, do not tamper with the wiring yourself. You could not only injure yourself but also face legal complications. If you suspect tampering with the electricity meter or an unmetered section of the wiring, contact your electricity distributor. If your neighbor has connected to your home’s wiring, it may be advisable to call in a qualified electrician or inspection technician to professionally inspect the wiring. If you suspect a criminal offense, you can also contact the Czech Police.

What You Are Entitled to in the Event of Unauthorized Electricity Use

If someone has been using your electricity without authorization, you have the right under the Civil Code to seek compensation for the resulting damages. Compensation for stolen electricity need not be limited to the value of the energy consumed but may also include other demonstrable costs you incurred in connection with the unauthorized consumption. These may include, for example, repairs to damaged wiring or reasonable expenses incurred for a professional assessment. In short, the goal is to restore you to the same financial position you would have been in had the unauthorized consumption never occurred.

What the damages may include

The cost of the electricity consumed without authorization: Thebasic component of the damages is the value of the electricity that someone consumed without your consent. If the amount of electricity consumed can be determined from meter readings or other evidence, these figures are used as the basis. If exact consumption cannot be documented, factors such as the power rating of connected appliances, the duration of their use, or an expert assessment may help in estimating it.

If a neighbor drew electricity directly from your home’s wiring behind the electric meter, the amount of damages will generally depend on the amount of electricity consumed and the costs you had to pay as a result. In the case of unauthorized consumption under the Energy Act, however, the amount of compensation may be determined according to the specific rules of the decree on electricity metering. The final amount therefore always depends on the specific situation and the method of unauthorized consumption.

Example: If a neighbor drew electricity through your outlet for three months and used standard appliances daily (e.g., heating and lighting in the garage), the damages could amount to several thousand crowns.

Costs for repairing the meter or damaged wiring: Unauthorized consumption may also result in damage to the electricity meter, seals, or electrical wiring. If, for example, your neighbor damaged your home’s wiring, outlets, or electrical panel, you can claim reimbursement for reasonable repair costs. This may also include necessary expenses for an electrician or inspection technician. The electricity meter itself is usually managed by the distributor, so it is best to address any damage to the meter directly with them. It is important to keep all invoices, receipts, and repair reports so that you can document the actual costs incurred.

Costs of Detecting and Proving Unauthorized Consumption: In order to convict the perpetrator, it is often necessary to have an expert opinion or inspection report prepared. These costs are also reasonable expenses that must be reimbursed. This may include an inspection of the distribution network, an expert opinion, and the costs of legal services involved in quantifying and claiming damages. If you had to hire an attorney to help you determine the actual extent of the damage and prepare the necessary documents, their fees are also part of the compensation for damages.

Non-pecuniary damages (stress, invasion of privacy, disruption of neighborly relations): In some cases, the damages may not be solely financial. If the unauthorized consumption has infringed upon your privacy or mental well-being, you may also seek appropriate compensation. A typical example is a situation where it is discovered that a neighbor has trespassed onto your property, tampered with the electrical wiring, or damaged equipment in your home. Such conduct may also be assessed under Section 2956 of the Civil Code, which governs compensation for non-pecuniary harm caused by a violation of personal rights. The amount of compensation depends on the severity of the infringement and can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of crowns.

You can also file a complaint about an incorrect bill from your distributor

If you suspect that your electricity bill was calculated incorrectly, you can request a correction. As a rule, you must file a complaint regarding the bill with your electricity supplier, who issued the invoice. If the problem relates to consumption metering, the distributor may also be involved in resolving it. If the distributor refuses to acknowledge your claim, you can contact the Energy Regulatory Office or, with the help of an attorney, initiate legal proceedings to recover the overpayment.

Be aware, however, of situations where a neighbor has been drawing electricity directly from your outlet or from your home’s wiring behind the meter. If the electricity meter recorded the consumption correctly, the bill may not be incorrect, even though you did not consume the electricity yourself. In such a case, you will generally need to seek compensation for damages directly from your neighbor.

My Neighbor Is Stealing My Electricity: What Should I Do?

As soon as you suspect that someone is illegally drawing electricity from your supply, start by carefully documenting everything. Take photos of any suspicious wiring or tampering with the meter, and write down the meter reading, the date, and all the details you’ve discovered. Every detail may come in handy later, for example, when proving intent or the duration of the unauthorized use. If possible, also save your electricity bills, which may show a noticeable increase in consumption.

If you’re wondering how to report unauthorized electricity use, it depends primarily on where and how the unauthorized connection occurred. If you suspect tampering with the electricity meter or an unmetered line, contact your electricity distributor. They can inspect the metering equipment and, depending on the circumstances, conduct an inspection or take other technical measures. However, if a neighbor has connected to your home’s wiring behind the electricity meter, you may also need to contact a qualified electrician or inspection technician. Have the results of the professional inspection documented in writing, as they may serve as important evidence in any subsequent claim for damages.

If you suspect that your neighbor’s actions constitute a criminal offense, you can file a criminal complaint for the unauthorized use of electricity. In the report, describe all known facts and attach evidence, such as photographs of the suspected connection, a record from the utility company, or witness statements. The police will then assess whether there is reasonable suspicion of a criminal offense and, if necessary, gather further evidence.

At the same time, it is advisable to begin quantifying the resulting damages. If a neighbor was drawing electricity past your meter, you can base your calculation, for example, on documented consumption, the power consumption of the connected appliances, the duration of their use, and the price of the electricity you had to pay. If it is not possible to determine the exact amount of electricity, an expert can help you with an estimate. However, in cases of unauthorized consumption under the Energy Act, special rules for calculating compensation used by the distributor may apply. It is important to support the amount of damages claimed with available evidence.

You can then file a claim for damages. The process usually begins out of court—that is, with a written demand for compensation addressed to the perpetrator. If the other party refuses to pay, you can proceed with a lawsuit. If criminal proceedings have been initiated, you can also claim damages directly within those proceedings as the injured party.

Each of these steps has its own challenges, particularly when it comes to proving the extent of the damages or the perpetrator’s intent. Therefore, we strongly recommend consulting a lawyer who can help you proceed correctly, draft the necessary documents, and, if necessary, represent you in court or in dealings with the police. Legal support will save you time, stress, and often money that you would otherwise lose due to procedural errors.

An Example from Our Law Practice: How We Helped a Client Recover Money for Electricity Used by a Neighbor

A client contacted us after his electricity bills had risen significantly over the course of a few months. Although he hadn’t changed his home’s heating system or connected any new appliances, his electricity usage had nearly doubled. He subsequently discovered that his neighbor had connected an electrical device in his garage to the client’s electrical wiring.

The client first tried to reach an agreement with his neighbor, but the neighbor refused to admit how much electricity he had used and wouldn’t pay anything.

We therefore had the wiring professionally inspected, compared the electricity bills, and calculated the resulting damages based on the available data. We then drafted a pre-litigation demand letter in which we informed the neighbor of his liability and demanded payment of the documented amount.

Upon receiving the demand, the neighbor agreed to a settlement and paid the damages. The client thus recovered his money without the need for litigation.

Similar disputes demonstrate how important it is to have properly prepared evidence and a legally justified claim. Suspicion alone is not enough. However, if you can prove the method of consumption and the resulting damage, you may have a realistic chance of obtaining compensation even without going to court.

What are the consequences of unauthorized electricity use?

Penalties for unauthorized electricity consumption depend primarily on the method used and the severity of the offense. In less serious cases, it may constitute a misdemeanor; however, if the legal elements are met, it may also constitute a felony. Specifically, unauthorized electricity consumption may be classified as the felony of theft under Section 205 of the Criminal Code. If the perpetrator causes damage of at least 10,000 CZK, they face up to 2 years of imprisonment under the basic elements of the offense. For greater damage—that is, 100,000 CZK or more—the sentence increases to 1 to 5 years. Causing substantial damage of 1 million CZK or more carries a sentence of 2 to 8 years, and causing extensive damage of 10 million CZK or more carries a sentence of 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment. In addition to imprisonment, the court may also impose another penalty, such as a fine, provided the statutory conditions are met.

Summary

If you discover that a neighbor is illegally tapping into your electricity supply, you have the right to demand compensation for the resulting damages. The most important thing is to secure evidence: photographs of the suspicious connection, electricity bills, and, if necessary, an expert report from an electrician. Depending on the method of theft, you can contact the utility company or the Czech Police. However, do not tamper with the electrical wiring yourself.

Compensation for damages may include not only the cost of the electricity consumed but also the costs of repairs or expert assessments. If your neighbor refuses to pay, you can send them a pre-lawsuit notice and then take the matter to court.