Here we tell you how much is the MORE y sanction for placing a ‘devil‘ in it meter of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), so you can reconsider if you have one.
For January 2025the Commission indicated that it will carry out tours of the Mexican Republic to identify and remove the so-called “little devils” on the meters, which serve to register lower consumption and thus pay less.
Although it is a common practice, it should not be forgotten that it is illegal to place a “little devil” on the meter of the CFE and that can lead to fines and sanctions for violators.
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These are the fines and sanctions for placing “little devil” on the CFE meter
Implementing a device that alters the measurement of electrical energy consumption is considered a crime equivalent to theft, which is why it is governed by the regulations of the Federal Penal Code and it is this same one that establishes the fines and sanctions corresponding to violators.
You must know that in Article 368 y 368 Bis indicates that those who place the “little devils” will face a criminal sanction of between 3 and 10 years in prisonin addition to paying a financial fine of up to thousand days of minimum wage.
For its part, the CFE will cut off the electricity supply immediately and the person responsible for the violation must pay the amount of the evaded consumption as well as the amount stipulated for the reconnection of the electrical service.
Penalties for removing the CFE meter
In addition to placing “little devils,” the Federal Penal Code contemplates economic and criminal sanctions for those who move, remove, alter or manipulate the Commission’s meters, since it is considered a federal asset.
That is, whoever alters or manipulates the CFE meter could face a penalty of between 3 and 10 years in prisonin addition to paying a fine of up to one thousand days of minimum wage, which is equivalent to approximately 248 thousand 930 pesos.
In the case of those who moved or removed the device, the penalty will be the same as the previous one, but the fine will be approximately 66 thousand pesos.
In 2024 alone, the Commission reported that it found 75 thousand meters modified in the Mexican Republic.
In addition, the CFE indicated that it found theft of electrical energy or lower established cost for consumption such as:
- “Diablitos”: are those devices that reduce the consumption record.
- Magnets: alter the operation of the meter.
- Electrical bridges: they are responsible for diverting the electric current before registering it in the meter.
- Interference: devices that emit electromagnetic signals.
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CFE warns of the danger of placing “little devils”
In addition to carrying legal and economic sanctions, the Commission indicated that the use of illegal devices can be dangerous for the home and its inhabitants. Here are some of the risks involved:
- Damage to electrical equipment
- Impact on the electrical infrastructure of the area
- Receiving high-voltage electric shocks when handling meters and live wires
- Overloads, short circuits and fires caused by poor installation of the “little devil”
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