Meter Tampering: A Serious Safety and Community Issue
Electric meters are more than just devices that track energy use, they're critical safety components of the electrical system that protect homes, families, utility workers, and the entire community. Tampering with an electric meter may seem like a harmless shortcut to some, but it creates serious risks that can have dangerous and costly consequences.
What Is Meter Tampering?
Meter tampering includes any attempt to interfere with or alter an electric meter or its wiring to change how electricity usage is recorded. This can include bypassing the meter, breaking seals, modifying internal components, or using unauthorized devices to slow or stop the meter.
Why Meter Tampering Is Dangerous
Tampering with electrical equipment puts lives at risk. Altered meters and wiring can cause:
• Electrical fires due to overheating or faulty connections
8 Community Day
Cover photo taken by Brian Roberts
Contact Us:
765-544-2600
www.rse.coop
(USPS 171-360 Published Monthly)
Contributor:
Courtney Mendoza
Publication Office:
2777 S. 840 W. Manilla, IN 46150
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POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to: ELECTRAWATT
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• Severe shock or electrocution hazards for homeowners, families, and visitors
• Danger to line workers and technicians who may unknowingly encounter unsafe, altered equipment
• Damage to appliances and home electrical systems
Even small modifications can create unstable electrical conditions that are unpredictable and extremely hazardous.
It Affects the Entire Community
Meter tampering isn’t just illegal, it’s unfair. When electricity is stolen, the cost doesn’t disappear. Those losses ultimately impact the entire membership through higher operational costs and rates. As a member-owned cooperative, we all share responsibility for protecting the integrity of the system that serves our communities.
Legal and Financial Consequences
Meter tampering is a criminal offense and can result in:
• Fines and legal penalties
• Disconnection of electric service
• Responsibility for repair and replacement costs
• Back-billing for unrecorded energy usage
The
Our Commitment to Safety and Service
Your
power. That means protecting the electrical system, our members, and our employees from preventable dangers. We encourage members to report suspicious activity and to contact us immediately if there are concerns about a meter or service equipment.
A Shared Responsibility
Electricity is a powerful resource that must be respected. Keeping meters secure and equipment unaltered protects everyone — families, neighbors, line workers, and the community as a whole.
If you ever notice damaged equipment, broken seals, or suspicious activity around electric meters, report it to RushShelby Energy right away at 765-544-2600 or www.rse.coop. Together, we can keep our system safe, fair, and reliable for all.
SmartHub Graphs
While we’re unlikely to forget how much we’ve had to bundle up this winter, it is easy to lose track of which days brought the most extreme cold and the highest energy use. SmartHub offers multiple graphs that give insight into the specific days you used the most electricity and what the temperatures were.
You can adjust time frames to view usage across any window you’d like to explore, making it easy to track patterns and understand your energy habits. SmartHub is free and available both on desktop (visit www.rse.coop) and through the mobile app, so your energy data is always at your fingertips. Below is an example of the Usage Explorer graph.
Women Who Power the Grid
Honoring Women in the Electric Industry – Past, Present, and Future
For generations, women have played a vital role in shaping the electric industry, often without recognition, often behind the scenes, and often while overcoming barriers. This Women’s History Month, we honor the pioneers, innovators, leaders, and everyday professionals who have helped build the grid, strengthen communities, and power progress.
Lighting the Way: Early Pioneers
Long before today’s modern energy systems existed, and engineering.
Edith Clarke, the first female electrical engineer, transformed engineering. Hertha Ayrton’s groundbreaking research advanced arc lighting technology, while Roebling’s engineering leadership helped complete the Brooklyn Bridge — one of the most iconic infrastructure projects in American history.
Other trailblazers followed, including Maria Telkes, the “Sun Queen” and a pioneer in solar energy innovation; Mildred Dresselhaus, the "Queen of Carbon Science" whose research transformed energy and electrical science; and Olga D. González-Sanabria, whose work advanced battery systems for space and energy applications. Together, these women laid the foundation for the reliable, resilient electric systems we depend on today.
Women Advancing Energy Science & Technology
Women have also played a critical role in shaping the science behind modern electricity. Leaders like Jackson contributed to innovations in telecommunications and electrical technologies, while women researchers across physics, engineering, and energy science have and innovation.
Women Powering Today’s Electric Industry
Beyond well-known names and titles, thousands of women work every day in roles that keep the lights on and communities connected. Across electric cooperatives and utilities, women serve as:
• Lineworkers and field technicians
• Engineers and system designers
• Dispatchers and system operators
• Safety professionals and trainers
• Geographic Information System (GIS) specialists and IT professionals
• Energy efficiency and sustainability managers
• Member service representatives
• Communications professionals
• Operations managers and executive leaders
They restore power after storms, design safer systems, support members, manage complex operations, and strengthen the relationship between electric providers and the communities they serve.
Building the Future of Energy
As the energy industry evolves, women are helping lead the way in renewable energy, grid modernization, cybersecurity, storage technology, and sustainability. Their leadership is shaping how power is generated, delivered, and used — ensuring a more reliable, resilient, and innovative energy future.
Below are more women who have helped and continue to blaze a trail in the electric industry. While this list doesn’t fully capture the depth of their accomplishments, it offers a glimpse into the impact they’ve made and the
secretary of the Women’s Engineering Society
– Telecommunications Pioneer – Inventor of a computerized telephone switching system – Codeveloper of the Conwell-Weisskopf Theory (semiconductor theory)
– Electrical Engineer – Inventor of Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)
– Physicist in the Department of Energy - Cofounded the Department of Energy employee resource group 'Professional Opportunities for Women the Energy Realized'
- Electrical Engineer - known as General Motors’ “battery czar” for her involvement in batteries for Electric Vehicles – Advocate for STEM curriculums - Recipient of the U.S. Clean Energy Education and
– Served in the electric industry for 37 years before retiring as Secretary from the Federal
- Chemist and Energy Storage Researcher - Her current research is central to electrifying the transportation sector and integrating renewable energy onto the electric grid.
Celebrating Women’s History Month is not only about honoring the past, it’s about investing in the future. Supporting education, mentorship, leadership development, and workforce opportunities ensures that the next generation of women will continue to innovate, lead, and inspire in the electric industry.
At RSE, we are proud to recognize and support the women who help power our organization and our communities. Their dedication, skill, and leadership make a lasting difference — not just in electricity, but in the
Each year, electric cooperatives across the nation participate in Community Day during October, which is National Co-op Month. This special day highlights one of the seven cooperative principles — Concern for Community.
At RushShelby Energy, team members from across our departments come together for a day of service, teamwork, and giving back. In past years, RSE volunteers have proudly served organizations such as The Boys & Girls Club of Rush County, Camp Woodsmoke, Indiana Rainbow Girls Foundation, Mahoney Valley Christian Service Camp, and Walnut Ridge Cemetery. Projects have included everything from painting and tree trimming to fence removal and pole setting; all focused on making a positive local impact.
If you are a not-for-profit organization within our service territory and have a project you would like RushShelby Energy to consider, please complete the online application available at www.rse.coop (the QR code will take you to our website) or stop by our office to pick one up. This year's Community Day is tentatively set for October 23. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 28, 2026.
If you have questions, please contact Courtney Mendoza at 765-544-2939 or rse@rse.coop.
