Theft of copper cable and grounding wire is a problem that continues to affect electric utilities across North America.The valuable metal is not easy to steal, but electrical substations are becoming targets of copper theft due to the metals rise in value. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the price of copper has risen 22.5 percent from May, 2010 to May, 2011.Electric utilities have installed barbed-wire fences and patrols have increased, however, that hasn't stopped thieves from stealing copper from electrical substations, thus threatening the reliability of the electrical system and creating potentially hazardous situations for the public. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, copper wire theft costs the U.S. one billion dollars per year. Thieves steal copper for a number of reasons, one being for illegal drug use (like methamphetamines).And, while copper thefts continue to increase, electric utilities across North America are joining forces and working with local authorities to reduce this ever-growing problem.
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