Scottish Power has described metal theft as one of the biggest threats to the country’s electricity supply.
Network operations director Guy Jefferson said the impact of crimes can be “devastating”.
He spoke out following a meeting with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill yesterday to discuss tougher sanctions against metal theft under new legislation currently going through the Scottish Parliament.
It will prevent scrap metal dealers paying cash for materials, which will block the criminal gangs from selling their stolen metal.
Last year a helicopter was brought in to patrol the Inverness-Aberdeen railway line after thieves stole lengths of copper wire.
Two metal gates were stolen from a field near Inverurie in April and thieves took materials from public buildings in Moray the previous month.
Mr Jefferson said: “Metal theft remains one of the biggest threats to the safety of the electricity network and the impact of these crimes can be devastating.
“As well as major power cuts that have inconvenienced thousands of families, we have experienced house fires and damaged electrical appliances in homes following haphazard thefts of our cables.
“One man died recently attempting to steal copper from an electricity pole in Lanarkshire, and others have suffered horrific burns, loss of limbs and scarring.”
Mr Jefferson said action was needed to hit thieves in their pockets.
“Changing the laws to make it much harder for these gangs to profit from their crimes is a major step in the right direction, and we are supportive of the new legislation,” he added.
Mr MacAskill said metal theft was “not a victimless crime”.
“By reducing the outlets for stolen metal and the lure of ready cash we believe we can remove the incentive to steal,” he added.