Two of the largest energy companies in the UK have issued anti-stab vests to hundreds of their employees.
Nearly 400 workers at British Gas and EDF Energy have been given the protective gear to use when they investigate energy theft or forcibly install pre-payment meters in households which are in arrears.
More than 97,000 gas and electricity meters were forcibly installed in homes last year. In 2013 when prices were rising deliriously, more than 111,000 were put in.
The pre-paid system usually attracts a higher tariff. Companies say they are used only in the last resort, but regulator Ofgem is investigating as a result of the rise in numbers.
Theft of gas or electricity is believed to be increasing. In some cases, piping and wiring is diverted and at other times neighbouring supplies are tapped into, leaving the owners with unexpectedly high charges.
Some 25,000 cases of electricity theft are detected each year, with a third estimated to be used to grow cannabis.
Lawrence Slade, of industry body Energy UK, said that attacks on energy company staff were “rare” but that companies “take all reasonable precautions”. He added that customers who do pay their bills are the ones who pay the costs incurred by energy thieves.
The other four major suppliers – Npower, E.On, SSE and ScottishPower – said they kept Health and Safety under review but have not issued the vests.
