Tackling theft, misuse of electricity

Power pilferage has been an issue in the City for years. But the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) says it has been able to arrest this menace in recent years by a stress on public awareness.

A Bescom Vigilance Department official told Deccan Herald that in the month of May 2016, the team booked 138 cognizable cases and collected Rs 104.23 lakh as penalty. They also booked 191 non- cognizable cases and collected Rs 181.02 lakh penalty. Of this, the Bengaluru division alone booked 13 cognizable and 157 non-cognizable cases.

The maximum non-cognizable cases were booked in Malleswaram (94) followed by Rajajinagar (58), three in Jayanagar and two in Indiranagar.

Last month, a major case of stealing power by bypassing the meter was reported in Whitefield. This was worth Rs 26 lakh and the culprit was a private mobile tower company. Two months back, a penalty of Rs 30 lakh was imposed on a violator, who had drawn power, claiming industrial usage. But it was found to be used for a chowltry in Nagawara.

During the financial year 2015-16, a total of 1,953 cognizable and 1,414 non-cognizable cases were booked against offenders across all Bescom divisions. The maximum number of cognizable cases were booked in July 2015 (295), followed by June 2015 (239) and August 2015 (176).

The maximum number of non-cognizable cases booked were in September 2015 (182), followed by October 2015 (157) and August 2015 (138).

According to vigilance officials, most cases in Bengaluru are related to power misuse than power theft. In most cases, consumers take the connection citing domestic usage, but run a commercial unit, like in Koramanagala or Malleswaram.
 Some take connection stating industrial usage, but run commercial complexes. There are also cases where meters are tampered with. However, cases of hooking lines such as those often reported from North Indian cities are rare here, because of increased awareness and daily vigilance, the official claims.

The average monthly target of Bescom Vigilance Wing is Rs 2 crore and on an average, Rs 1.2 crore is collected. Power theft and misuse cases amount to just 2% of total supply. Transmission and distribution loses amount to 7-8%.

At other Bescom limits, most power theft cases are reported from irrigation projects and borewell connections. In Bengaluru city, cases of power misuse are more, where water and power are scarce.

Apart from undertaking daily inspections, the department also conducts monthly energy audits where each transformer readings are analysed with monthly consumer readings.

Taking the difference and increase in usage over a period of two months, the vigilance team pins down the offenders. Consumers are the major informants. On an average, Bescom receives 50- 60 complaints, of which around 50% turn out to be fake, the official informs.