It's not automated here, it's done manually, but it's done without delay, no mercy and there's no negotiation regarding your debt. The only excuse is if someone in the household is on life support. Otherwise they drop the hammer.
I'm transmitting the index of the meter monthly, online, but I have to let the company rep in, to check the meter from time to time, let him take a photo of the meter. Fail to do that and I'm disconnected. Some meters are digital and those are transmitting data automatically to the company. The process is automated. They are going to install those meters everywhere but the process takes time and it's not exactly cheap either.
There are thefts as well, but if you're caught, you go to jail. There are difficult areas, where people are not nice, to put it mildly, so in those areas, the electricity company reps are going with the police and the commando unit, you know, the boys in black, with masks. So no chance for any tricks as you get arrested the minute you try to do something.
I’ve heard some households be in power debt up to close to $1000. It’s serious.
That will never happen here, after 45 days you're disconnected and can only be connect back, if you pay. If you don't, after awhile you go to court. It's a slightly different story with companies as bills are a bit bigger, but they don't get a free pass either.