WITH AN aim to maintaining power supply and increase power generation in Madhya Pradesh, concerted efforts are being made with special attention towards checking power theft.
As per an official release today, the officers of the electricity board are making surprise inspections to detect cases of power theft and the Electricity Act is being strictly enforced. As many as 92 special courts have been set up to facilitate expeditious disposal of the cases of power theft.
The Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) has appealed to the consumers not to get carried away by greed or misguidance and warned them against indulging in power theft.
Anyone found guilty would be liable to imprisonment up to five years and fine which would be six times the amount of bill. They would also have to pay the company as compensation double the amount of loss incurred by the company due to power theft.
The cases of power theft come under Section 135 of the Electricity Act 2003. Under this, anyone drawing electricity illegally from a licenced overhead line, underground lines or cables, service lines or service facility or tampers with the meter or indulges in any other irregularity would invite action under the provisions of the Act.
In case, a crime is proved for the first time the culpable consumer would have to pay a fine that would be three times of the benefit he has taken by theft of electricity. He will also pay an amount double the loss to the company as civil liabilities. If again the consumer indulges in the same activity the liability would be six times and he would be liable to an imprisonment of up to five years.
{{/usCountry}}In case, a crime is proved for the first time the culpable consumer would have to pay a fine that would be three times of the benefit he has taken by theft of electricity. He will also pay an amount double the loss to the company as civil liabilities. If again the consumer indulges in the same activity the liability would be six times and he would be liable to an imprisonment of up to five years.
{{/usCountry}}As per Section 147 of the Electricity Act the amount of fine would be in addition to the civil liability. However, under Section 152 of the Act the erring consumer may avoid action by paying compounding amount but it would be allowed
only once.
The compounding amount would be Rs 20,000 for industrial service, Rs 10,000 for commercial (non-domestic) service and Rs 2,000 for agricultural service and other services.