Stealing copper wire is still a thing. SaskPower says it lost over $41 thousand worth of the metal last year. But the problem is more than just a monetary loss; it’s a problem of safety.
Kevin Lalonde, Director of Distribution Operations and Maintenance says, “Copper acts as a grounding material for power infrastructure, and when this material is removed, there are real risks of electrocution as a result.”
Beyond the immediate risk to the person removing the wire, tampering with grounding materials can lead to power outages to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure – such as hospitals and nursing homes. There is also an added cost to repair and replace damaged equipment.

Removing copper wire also puts SaskPower employees at risk, as it creates conditions for unintentional electrification of the ground and surrounding objects. A person contacting the pole or coming near the area could be seriously hurt or even killed.

SaskPower says it is taking steps to deter thieves, including increased remote video monitoring and replacing stolen copper wire with copper cladding. Copper cladding looks and performs like pure copper wire but has no monetary scrap value.

Customers can report damaged SaskPower equipment to the Outage Centre at 310-2220. If anyone has information about a copper theft, or any other vandalism to SaskPower facilities, they are encouraged to contact their local police service or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers.