Flashing your Linky meter to save electricity, what are the risks ?

© Enedis

The steep rise in electricity prices is pushing some households to their limits. On Telegram, WhatsApp and Snapchat, offers to hack Linky meters are multiplying. The principle? For a few hundred euros, “technicians” propose to modify the meter so that it only records a portion of actual consumption. The key is a tempting promise: reducing your bill by 50 to 70%.

This practice, which is attracting more and more French people, seriously worries Enedis. The electricity distribution network manager estimates that it has lost no less than 250 million euros since 2022 due to this fraud. A situation that has prompted the company to create a specific department dedicated to combating this phenomenon.

Considerable legal and financial risks

Flashing your Linky meter is not a trivial act. Legally, this is energy theft, punishable by heavy penalties. In the most serious cases, particularly when the fraud is organized as a network, the penalties can reach a fine of one million euros and ten years of imprisonment.

Fraudsters also face civil prosecution. Enedis systematically files a complaint when cases of fraud are discovered. The company is demanding not only reimbursement for the stolen electricity, but also payment of the costs of bringing the meter back into compliance. The bill can quickly climb to several thousand euros.

Court news illustrates Enedis' determination to track down fraudsters. In Valenciennes, a man in his thirties is currently appearing in court for having modified hundreds of meters. He charged between 200 and 400 euros for his services on Snapchat. The damage to Enedis amounts to 150,000 euros.

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Enedis tries to scare people with the threat of mortal danger

Beyond the legal risks, Enedis warns that hacking a Linky meter endangers the lives of the occupants of the home. Modifying the meter requires working on live electrical components. A poorly controlled action can cause electrocution or start a fire.

Scammers who offer online training courses to learn how to “flash” their meter themselves are playing with the lives of their customers. These training courses, often sold for more than 1000 euros, expose individuals to potentially fatal risks.

Vigilance is also required when faced with fake technicians who show up at home.Some pretend to be qualified electricians, not hesitating to charge for their intervention without even changing the meter. In the best case, the customer loses his money. In the worst case, the amateur intervention can turn his electrical installation into a death trap.

Enedis strengthens its controls

To stem this scourge, Enedis is moving up a gear. The company plans to double its workforce dedicated to combating fraud, from 250 to 500 employees by 2025. Systematic control campaigns will be deployed in five pilot regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Grand Est, Île-de-France, Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

Customers suspected of fraud will be visited by Enedis teams. In the event of a refusal to conduct an inspection, the company may cut off the power supply ten days after sending a formal notice.

• Having your Linky meter hacked exposes you to fines and significant legal proceedings
• The risk of electrocution or fire is real in the event of unprofessional modification of the meter
• Enedis is significantly strengthening its controls with the doubling of its anti-fraud staff planned for 2025

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