meter bypass
[/ˈmiːtər ˈbaɪpæs/]
nounpl: meter bypasses
desvio de medidor
1. An illegal or unauthorized connection that allows utilities (electricity, water, or gas) to be used without passing through the meter, thereby avoiding payment
The utility company discovered a meter bypass in the abandoned building that had been installed years ago.
A companhia de energia descobriu um desvio de medidor no prédio abandonado que havia sido instalado anos atrás.
2. A deliberate manipulation or circumvention of a meter's measuring capability
Installing a meter bypass is a federal crime in most jurisdictions.
Instalar um desvio de medidor é crime federal na maioria das jurisdições.
Meter bypass is a significant problem in Brazil, particularly in favelas and lower-income areas, where it is often called 'gato de luz' (light cat). While illegal and dangerous, it is sometimes viewed as an act of necessity by those unable to afford utility bills. In the USA, meter bypass is treated as a serious federal crime. Both countries' utility companies invest heavily in detection systems to prevent such fraud.
NYC Slang
stealing juice; stealing power; running a bootleg line
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