Over Rs 2 crore fine imposed of erring electricity consumers

Chandigarh, Oct 22 (UNI) Intensifying the ongoing campaign to check pilferage of power, unauthorised use of electricity and unauthorized extension of load, the Vigilance and Enforcement Wing of the Haryana Power Utilities detected 214 cases of theft of electricity and imposed penalty of Rs 2.16 crore on the erring consumers during in September.

Giving details, a spokesman said here today that penalty of over Rs four lakh to Rs 15 lakh had been levied in ten of these cases which included industrial and non-domestic connections. In all, the amount of penalty exceeded Rs 50, 000 in 97 cases of theft of electricity and unauthorised extension of load.

The electricity supply of the erring consumers had been disconnected immediately as per the existing instructions.

First Information Reports (FIR) with the police had been lodged against ten consumers found involved in stealing power. It was observed during the surprise checking that the consumers had been stealing power by directly taping the supply lines, using magnate for stopping the energy recording meters, tampering of meter seals and other unauthorised means.

Special checking of 18 consumer premises being fed from 11 KV feeder in Babyal sub division of Ambala was also carried where the line losses were 41 per cent. During the checking it was detected that nine consumers had been stealing electricity.

The spokesman warned that the no compounding will be made in the cases where the detection of theft will be noticed second time.

The Power Nigams will lodge FIR invariably in such cases.

UNI HS KK SP DS1355