This could get interesting

Woman's electricity bill went from $200 a quarter to $488, to $704 to $4,780 … all in a two year period, during which her circumstances had not changed

Energy Australia checked her metre and said it was working fine.  She had to pay the massive amounts

Finally, she engaged two electricians at her own expense at a cost of $1190

and was informed that a unit adjoining her own was drawing from her electricity

Police are now involved

The resident of the other unit,  named in the media as Merlita Rodriguez, told media she didn't  know anything about it and had only asked a friend of hers, 'Edgar' to fix her electricity

A photo of the bodge job at the metre shows lots of tape and has been described as hazardous to property and life

Police are investigating

So  it went from a legitimate $200 per quarter during the 19 years in which the defrauded victim has lived in that unit ... to almost $5000 per quarter

Police are investigating

Shame Energy Australia didn't run a competent investigation during the time the victim was forced to pay them for the astronomical increase

and what was the currently 'unknown' energy thief doing to run up an almost $5000 bill?  Running their air con 24/7?  Operating a grow room?

I hope the culprit cops it hard and surely the cops don't need to be Poirot to work it out

You'll find in 9news, 'national'