The temporary reduction in the consumption of electric current by a customer who is behind in paying electricity bills, the current coming from a mains electric power supply through a supply line incorporating, at least in a single-phase system, a fuse in the live cable placed in the lead-sealed box, is obtained according to the invention by mounting in the fuse box beside the fuse 181 a cut-off device 30 with a normally-closed contact 58 and a measuring transformer 28 with an electronic device 52 for controlling the temporary activation of the contact 58 and by inserting this device in the phase current circuit after the fuse 18, the electric circuit thus passing through the contact 58 and the measuring transformer 28. The fact that the modifications involved in installing the device for the reduction in supply of current are made in the customer's fuse box, which is usually situated outside the private dwelling, enables the operation to be carried out without the need to obtain the agreement of the customer. The lead seal on the fuse box also means that the customer himself cannot restore the original normal supply situation without drawing attention to what is being done. IMAGE
展开▼
