The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) has issued a public warning following a reported fraud attempt involving the installation of smart electricity meters.
According to the Authority, residents of an apartment building received a misleading message requesting that they pay substantial sums to a private electrician for the installation of smart meters. EAC clarified that it does not charge consumers for the replacement of conventional electricity meters with smart meters. The cost of the rollout is covered by the Authority and co-funded through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The Authority stressed the following:
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Electricity meters belong to the Distribution System Owner of EAC and are installed, maintained and replaced exclusively by the Authority. The work is never outsourced to private electricians.
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Areas scheduled for mass smart meter replacements are announced in advance through the media on a regular basis.
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The rollout programme is published on EAC’s official website, and residents are notified at least 24 hours before replacement works take place.
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EAC personnel carry official identification and arrive in clearly marked service vehicles. Members of the public are encouraged to request identification if in doubt.
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Official communications from EAC do not include payment requests, monetary amounts or payment methods.
The Authority emphasised that such messages are fraudulent and are intended to mislead the public into making unlawful payments.
Consumers are urged to remain vigilant and to verify any suspicious communication directly with EAC through official channels.