Nagpur: In a concerted crackdown against electricity theft, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) uncovered 2,797 cases of direct power theft in Nagpur district between April and December 2024, authorities said on Wednesday, January 8. Additionally, 195 cases of unauthorised or indirect electricity usage were identified and acted upon during this period.
Extent of Power Theft:
Investigations revealed that the culprits had stolen a staggering 25.57 lakh units of electricity worth ₹4.94 crore. Of these, 2,690 offenders were fined ₹1.11 crore as a settlement, while police cases were registered against 29 consumers. Among the offenders:
• 1,501 cases involved theft through illegal connections such as hooking wires to power lines.
• 1,296 cases included tampering with meters, using remote devices to shut down meters, drilling holes in meters to disrupt readings, or slowing meter speeds.
Moreover, in 195 instances of unauthorized usage, consumers misused 2.33 lakh units of electricity, leading to penalties amounting to ₹54 lakh.
Aggressive Crackdown on Power Theft:
MSEDCL has intensified its anti-theft drive, identifying various ingenious methods employed for theft, including tampering with meters and manipulating readings. The organization has begun inspecting meters with irregular readings, such as low consumption or average billing patterns, and is conducting thorough checks on defaulters, including those disconnected for non-payment but not participating in amnesty schemes.
Impact of Electricity Theft:
Illegal power consumption imposes excessive loads on transformers and electrical lines, often resulting in equipment failure, short circuits, and power outages. These incidents not only disrupt supply for law-abiding consumers but also incur significant financial losses for MSEDCL.
MSEDCL has appealed to consumers to use electricity only through authorized meters and ensure timely bill payments to avoid penalties or legal action.
A Message to Defaulters:
The electricity provider has vowed to adopt a stricter stance against defaulters and urged residents to cooperate by adhering to the law. Regular inspections and penalties will continue as part of MSEDCL’s ongoing campaign to combat electricity theft.
