Cyprus Electricity Authority Warns of Scam Regarding Payment for 'Smart' Meter Installation

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) has warned of fraudulent messages sent to residents of an apartment building, in which scammers demanded large sums of money allegedly for the installation of 'smart' electricity meters.

In a statement, the authority clarified that the replacement of traditional meters and the introduction of smart devices do not require payment from consumers, as the costs are covered by the Authority and European funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The Authority noted that the meters belong to the distribution system operator and are installed, maintained, and replaced exclusively by the authority's own personnel; the work is not contracted out to private electricians and does not involve any fees from residents.

Areas undergoing mass meter replacement are announced in advance in the media and published on the authority's website. Residents are notified at least 24 hours prior to a scheduled replacement.

Authority employees arrive in marked service vehicles and carry official identification, which should be requested upon their visit. Messages from authority staff do not contain instructions for payment or methods for transferring funds.

The Authority urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious cases to the relevant authorities.