This volume of fraud, according to the company, creates serious problems in affected communities, negatively impacting the daily lives of residents. The situation not only causes supply interruptions but also poses a significant safety risk, with numerous fires reported in recent years due to illegal connections.
Of the total energy defrauded, amounting to 9.2 million kilowatt-hours, approximately 49% (4.5 million) is directly related to the consumption of marijuana plantations. Although specific cases for this reason represent only 8% of the total (94 cases in the first quarter), the magnitude of associated consumption is remarkable.
“"These interventions are fundamental, as they allow for the dismantling of true engineering of marijuana cultivation connected to the grid, which causes overload in electrical infrastructures, leading to supply cuts for all residents."
In the last three months, Endesa's Networks subsidiary has participated in 19 operations in Granada, in collaboration with Security Forces, aimed at combating massive fraud linked to these cultivations. These actions are crucial for alleviating the overload on electrical infrastructures and restoring normal supply.
A clear example of the effectiveness of these operations was observed in Andalucía last March, where energy demand in areas with marijuana plantations drastically decreased after interventions, normalizing the load on the network. The company emphasizes that reinforcing the network does not solve the problem, as the fraud is so extensive that it saturates facilities, sometimes multiplying the legally contracted power by five in some areas.
Across Andalucía, during the first quarter of the year, more than 2,900 supply cuts due to fraud were carried out in joint operations with Security Forces, representing a 30% increase compared to the same period last year.
