JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Waterbury, VT – 7/26/11 –The Vermont State Police and Vermont Department of Public Service, along with officials from Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), Green Mountain Power (GMP), and Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) are warning of the dangers of copper theft after a wave of break-ins, including recent incidents at two VEC substations and two GMP substations. In all cases small amounts of copper were stolen putting the perpetrators in an extremely dangerous and potentially lethal situation while posing hazards for utility workers, increased costs for utility repairs, and a disruption of public safety.

“The person or persons responsible for these thefts do not realize the extreme danger they put themselves into. Cutting a ground wire is not without risk as they carry current, and the effect could be deadly,” said Hans E. Mertens, Director of Engineering Services & Chief Engineer of Vermont Department of Public Service.  “The value of copper stolen can never outweigh the value of a life.” 

In this increasing nationwide trend, several deaths occur each year as people attempt to steal copper from electric utility fences and equipment. 

However the concern over copper theft goes beyond the risk to the perpetrator and the crime itself. While copper thieves routinely target vacant business and homes, when they steal from electrical substations, cellular towers, telephone land lines, railroads and public water wells they have an impact far greater than a simple theft. Copper stolen from these targets interrupt public power distribution, telecommunications, other utilities and transportation, but these outages also have a significant impact on emergency services. When emergency services are disrupted it presents an unacceptable risk to both public safety and national security. 

“Copper theft is both dangerous and illegal,” said VEC’s Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Wright. “In addition to the serious safety risks associated with this crime, these acts can also cause widespread power outages and can be costly to repair.” 

The potential impact of copper thefts at electrical substations to Vermonters includes power outages, compromised communications, and delayed emergency services; notwithstanding the cost for labor and materials to replace stolen copper which could ultimately be passed on to the consumers. 

Cooperating agencies ask the public to help with this issue by reporting suspicious activities at substations and other facilities to law enforcement agencies and to the company. 

“These individuals are putting their lives at risk, and endangering the public,” Colonel Tom L’Esperance, Director of the Vermont State Police said.  “We urge anyone who sees anything suspicious near a substation or utility property to call 911 immediately.”

Allan D. St.Peter - Vermont Department of Public Service – (802)828-4083

Elizabeth M. Gamache, Manager of Corporate Services, Vermont Electric Cooperative - (802)730-1158

Dottie Schnure, Green Mountain Power – (802) 655-8418

Steve Costello – Central Vermont Public Service – (802) 747-5427

Stephanie Dasaro, Vermont State Police Public Information Officer - 802-279-9773