Power grab: 5 arrested after Hydro-Québec busts electricity theft ring

hydro dam

MONTREAL -

Five people have been arrested in connection with an electricity theft ring alleged to have operated for five years.

The thefts were allegedly committed by the owners of rental properties who used stolen personal information to create accounts with Hydro-Québec.

The utility alleges that between 2014 and 2019, Mario Brousseau, Simon Brousseau-Ouellette and their accomplices defrauded Hydro-Québec of up to $300,000 worth of electricity. It was impossible for Hydro-Québec’s customer service section to detect the fraud because the information on the accounts, while stolen, was also genuine.

The suspects are expected to face 25 counts of fraud, conspiracy and identity theft.

Hydro-Québec noted the thefts were detected through an investigation by the utility into 10 fraud cases.

Anyone concerned that a fraud is being committed against Hydro-Québec is urged to call 1-877-816-1212.

Related News

electric vehicles

Coronavirus puts electric carmakers on alert over lithium supplies

BEIJING - The global outbreak of coronavirus will accelerate efforts by western carmakers to localise supplies of lithium for electric car batteries, according to US producer Livent.

The industry was keen to diversify away from China, which produces the bulk of the world’s lithium, a critical material for lithium-ion batteries, said Paul Graves, Livent’s chief executive.

“It’s a conversation that’s starting to happen that was not happening even six months ago,” especially in the US, the former Goldman Sachs banker added.

China produced about 79 per cent of the lithium hydroxide used in electric car batteries last year, according to consultancy CRU, a…

READ MORE
map of canada ev sales

Atlantic Canadians less charged up to buy electric vehicle than rest of Canada

READ MORE

Andrew M. Cuomo

NY Governor Cuomo Announces Green New Deal Included in 2019 Executive Budget

READ MORE

fusion reactor iter

Why the promise of nuclear fusion is no longer a pipe dream

READ MORE

Germany turns its back on nuclear for good despite Europe's energy crisis

READ MORE