DHBVN for curbing misuse of electricity

Hisar, July 30 (UNI) If theft and misuse of electricity can be checked, the present availability of power is sufficient to meet the demand of all categories of consumers.

It was stated by Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) Managing Director Vijayendra Kumar here today after giving away prizes to the winners of electricity conservation campaign launched by all the FM Radios at Hisar.

DHBVN, on an average, purchase 392 lakh units of power daily, which is sufficient to meet the requirement of all categories of consumers. But about 130 lakh units of power goes waste due to theft or line losses which causes power cuts on account of load shedding, low frequency, etc, the MD said.

"Central Government has amended the Electricity Act 2003 and included hard provisions against theft of electricity. According to the amendment, theft of electricity is now a non-bailable offence having provisions of heavy penalty and imprisonment for upto 3 years," Mr Vijayendra Kumar said.

He said that in view of amendment of the Electricity Act-2003, DHBVN had amended its instructions for dealing with cases of theft of electricity.

According to the amended instructions, the connection of the erring consumers shall immediately be disconnected on detection of theft and supply will be restored only after payment of the penalty, within 48 hours. The official who detects theft of electricity is now bound to lodge a complaint in writing in police station within 24 hours of detection of theft.

In the event of second and subsequent conviction of a person where load abstracted, consumed, use or attempted abstraction or attempted consumption or attempted use exceeds 10 KW, a person shall be debarred from getting any supply of electricity for a period from 3 months to 2 years.

UNI