In the fight against massive fraud in Grenada 1,232 supplies have been inspected and in 80% there was fraud

So far this year, Endesa has taken 47 actions against massive fraud in Granada in collaboration with the State security forces, all because of the risk that this type of action entails for the electricity company's technicians.

Endesa's network subsidiary, e-distribución, has a specific department in the fight against fraud that takes this type. This is a human team that works every day to ensure that customers with a contract in force are not affected by the consequences of massive fraud. This fraudulent practice causes the networks to become saturated and there are power cuts as a result of the electricity being cut off in order to avoid fires.

This team of technicians works in collaboration with the Security Forces, since every day they receive threats because of their work. This year there have already been 47 actions involving the analysis of 1,232 supply points. The latest massive intervention was on 31 May and in 979 cases (80%) fraud was detected.

These actions are being taken in the areas of Granada most affected by network overloads that power cuts, these are the Zona Norte, Santa Fe, Pinos Puente, Iznalloz, Cogollos de la Vega and Atarfe.

In the area where most actions were taken as a result of network overloads that had been continuously recorded was in the Zona Norte, specifically in 2023 in this urban area 16 actions against fraud have been taken by Endesa technicians with the support of the Security Forces. In these actions, 483 supply points were inspected and in 400 (82%) fraud was detected.

As a result of these actions, there is a decrease in electricity consumption of up to 60%, which means the installations can then operate normally. Endesa's technicians collaborate with the Security Forces when they take action against illegal marijuana plantations by providing them with the technical knowledge required to deal with these manipulated electrical installations. So far this year, there have been 47 interventions of this type with the support of the security forces, with 979 power cuts caused by marijuana plantations in Granada.

In the fight against fraud, Endesa is also applying the latest technology by installing power detectors in transformers and using big data to make fraud detection more accurate. These measures are essential since fraud is becoming more sophisticated every day which makes detection more complicated.

In addition to these measures, Endesa's network subsidiary, e-distribución, has also specifically taken reinforcement actions in these areas over the last 3 years involving an investment exceeding €8 million in the case of the Zona Norte. In spite of accusations that the networks are not prepared, the installations in this area of Granada have implemented the latest technology in recent years, including strengthening the low- and medium-voltage network, as well as the Pulianas substation where power was increased by 57% despite the fact that the number of customers in this area has not increased, quite the opposite, contracting has fallen by 50%. 

In Pinos Puente Endesa has also strengthened infrastructures in recent years with an investment of about half a million euros, doubling the installed power in this area where in some cases there was a transformer that could serve 600 customers with only 10 supply contracts in force and despite this the infrastructure suffered power cuts due to network overload that affected everyone in the area. Endesa extended its investment to nearby areas such as Atarfe and Santa Fe where there was a proliferation of this problem.

In addition to these areas, an extra effort was made thanks to the latest technology with regard to the digitalisation of the networks. Remote control switches were installed in 8 transformers in the Zona Norte which enabled remote control and action, and the time taken to act was reduced by 60%. These remote controls are an essential feature in the combat against the heat wave.