Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Allegations that two properties owned by the Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology have been stealing power from Shawano Municipal Utilities is more likely to become a civil issue than a criminal one, according to authorities.
Shawano police were notified in February of a theft complaint involving meter-jumping at two ostensibly vacant SIST properties: 201 N. Main St. in the city, the former Muehls Furniture building, and N5791 Riverside Drive, a vacant residence in the town of Wescott.
SIST representatives could not be reached for comment.
A contractor doing construction work at the Wescott property had requested SMU remove the utility meter, which is how SMU discovered that the meter had been tampered with to bypass the meter and provide power to the property.
Brian Knapp, city administrator and SMU general manager, said it was then felt prudent to inspect the meters at other properties owned by the same property owner.
In doing so, SMU discovered alleged meter tampering at the Main Street property in the city.
Shawano police investigated the alleged meter tampering in the city and referred the Wescott case to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.
Shawano police issued a citation for theft to SIST on March 17 and referred the matter to municipal court.
“The complaint is closed on our end,” interim Police Chief Dan Mauel said.
The case remains open at the county level, Chief Deputy George Lenzner said, but “it’s hard to prove anything more than a citation.”
He said that’s because it’s difficult to prove when the property became vacant and who is actually responsible for the theft.
The Wescott residence has been vacant for about two years, according to the sheriff’s department.
“It’s going to take a little more investigation,” Lenzner said, but, he added, it’s most likely to end up being a civil issue.
SMU has “back-billed” SIST for the power, even though there’s no way of knowing how much power has been used.
If the bill isn’t paid, the properties would be subject to disconnection and the due amount put on the property owner’s tax bill.
Knapp said SMU is treating this as the utility would with any other customer.
The back-billing is based on a calculation recommended by the state’s Public Service Commission, which allows the billing to go back to when the meters were installed or the last time they were inspected.
Knapp said that would amount to about $19,000 between the two properties, if the alleged thefts began after the last meter inspections, which would have occurred in the mid-2000s.
However, he said, there’s no way to know when it really began or how much was stolen, which is why SMU is using the PSC guidelines for its billing.
If necessary, Knapp said, the matter could be taken to court.
“We’ll do what’s necessary to meet our obligations to the rest of our customers,” he said.
