(FORT WORTH, TX) – Stealing copper is clearly against the law, but Texas-New Mexico Power Co. warned today it also is highly dangerous – even deadly – when utility lines and equipment are involved.

Nationally, copper theft has been a growing trend, and utilities have been targeted because of copper used in lines and equipment. The trend has come with a high toll. Across the country, numerous fatalities have been reported involving would-be thieves who are electrocuted.

“There’s a reason we have warning signs posted around our electric substations,” said Neal Walker, TNMP vice president, Texas transmission and distribution operations. “Electric substations have very high voltages that can harm or even kill untrained personnel. Power lines are equally dangerous. The extra money any copper sales could provide come at too high of a risk.”

In addition to posing serious danger to those who try to steal copper wire, the theft also creates hazards for innocent people. For example, utility workers are at risk when wire theft leaves a line ungrounded.

Copper theft also creates problems with reliability and can cause power outages that inconvenience hundreds and even thousands of customers.

TNMP asks is customers to help with this safety and reliability issue by reporting any suspicious activity at substations and other facilities to law enforcement agencies and to the company. Copper theft is a crime, and TNMP prosecutes any who are caught stealing.

Texas-New Mexico Power Company provides community-based electric delivery service to approximately 215,000 customers in Texas. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of PNM Resources.