Houshang Seidali, director of gas supply coordination at the company, discussed the issues in an interview with Shana. He described how illegal connections are made, why underground lines are hard to monitor, the shift toward smart networks, violation figures, safety risks, a proposed reward system for whistleblowers and his advice for responsible consumption in winter. He said success will require the participation of all subscribers and a culture of efficient use.

How can illegal connections be made without detection? Doesn't that point to weak oversight?

Seidali said gas networks were once made of metal, and every connection required welding. Because of costs and the need to prevent underground corrosion, polyethylene pipes came into wide use. They have many advantages, he said, but making an illegal connection to them can be technically easier than to metal pipes.

Some violations also happen at night, he said, and the company cannot physically monitor thousands of miles of underground pipeline around the clock. The company is moving toward smart networks. Smart meters and other systems will let officials analyze subscribers' consumption patterns and compare the volume of gas entering the network with total recorded use.

Any gap between the two must be investigated, he said, because it could stem from leaks, waste or illegal withdrawals. The aim is to detect such activity faster and respond.

Many networks were built years ago, and information about underground facilities can be accessible in residential and urban areas, he said. Some people also know their surroundings well. Illegal tapping, he said, should not be assumed to occur only in remote areas.

Where are violations most common? Is theft organized or tied to former contractors?

Alborz Province recorded the most gas theft last year, Seidali said. The length of time someone has used gas, and the documentation of it, matters. Anyone claiming to have used gas only for a set period must provide evidence, he said, and charges are calculated under legal regulations.

As for contractors, he said many work lawfully for the company across the country. They are skilled and could advise others, but organized network theft seems unlikely, he said. Gas belongs to the public, and unauthorized use causes economic losses and can affect supplies to other consumers.

How does theft affect supply and distribution in winter?

Managing supply in the cold months is difficult, so available resources must be handled carefully, Seidali said. Last year, as the company worked to maintain supply and manage restrictions, officials were dismayed to see gas used to heat open-air swimming pools and for purposes such as cryptocurrency mining.

Smart meters are central to the response, he said. They reveal losses in the network; when gas entering and leaving a network match, officials can be confident it has no problems. He said 450,000 meters are in the final stage of a smart-meter pilot, after which conventional meters will be gradually phased out. Subscribers who use far more than they need will be quickly identified and, if the pattern continues, limited.

Finding and fixing underground leaks also matters, he said. Handling of leak reports has improved in the provinces, and the company is trying to shorten the time between a report and a response. Even small losses add up, he said. Patrols by officers and monitoring teams are important, particularly near construction sites. Citizens who see unusual activity around gas facilities can report it through official channels.

Is there a reward system for people who report illegal connections?

Seidali said a system once paid rewards to people who identified gas theft, but payments stopped for a time. Efforts are under way to have it approved again. If it is, he said, it could motivate field staff, gas inspectors and others to report violations, though it would have to follow legal rules.

What are the safety risks of illegal connections?

Any energy source can be dangerous if misused, Seidali said. People who build unauthorized connections or networks often ignore technical standards, raising the risk of leaks, fires and explosions.

The company’s own networks follow set technical standards, he said, and polyethylene pipes are joined using specialized heat-fusion methods to ensure safe connections. Improper work or tampering can endanger facilities. Unsafe digging or tunneling near gas lines can damage pipes, cause leaks and lead to serious accidents, so any connection must be authorized and meet safety rules.

Each province is allotted a set amount of gas, he added, so provincial companies must work to detect unauthorized use or face pressure drops.

What is your advice to subscribers?

Seidali urged households to moderate indoor temperatures. Homes should not be so warm that people can sit in short sleeves in winter, he said. If every family kept its home at a balanced temperature without compromising comfort or health, the combined effect would help keep the network stable on cold days.

He asked subscribers to check their usage and gas bills and avoid unnecessary consumption. The goal, he said, is not just lower bills but matching energy use to real needs so gas remains available to everyone during cold spells.

He recalled a winter trip to Scotland, where he stayed at a hotel and found he could not set the room temperature as he expected, and getting an extra blanket was handled differently than he anticipated. In many countries, he said, people’s habits with heating and expectations for indoor temperatures differ from Iranians’, and changing consumption culture and accepting moderate temperatures could significantly cut energy use.

Subscribers who use gas excessively were told to align consumption with standard norms and their building’s conditions. If wasteful use continues, supply restrictions could be imposed under the relevant regulations, he said. Iran’s gas resources are limited, he said, and all subscribers must use them responsibly.