CHANDIGARH: Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has started a campaign against power theft. During the campaign, PSPCL conducts raids and fines imposed on multiple residents, who steal electricity.

 As per the information,  PSPCL inspected 3,035 connections of high-loss feeders on 13 and 14 May. During the investigation, a fine of Rs 88.18 lakh was imposed on 584 consumers for power theft or violation of rules. In this regard, 120 were for theft of electricity and 464 for other irregularities or violations.

However, PSPCL employee had raided Dera Sarhala near Jantipur in Udok subdivision (Amritsar). The raid involved a direct connection to a 25-kilovolt-ampere transformer outside the camp building. By bypassing the meter, the load was found to be 29.278 kW. A fine of Rs 5.12 lakh has been imposed on Dera for theft of electricity in the raid.

According to the Times of India, Dera Baba Lal Singh Bhai Roopa (Rampura Phool) had a straight wire connected to a roadside transformer. The total load attached to this wire was 3 kW, which operated the air-conditioner. During the raid, a video was made and the cable was removed. An FIR was registered against the Dera in this regard.

While, a case of power theft of 40-kilowatt load has come to light by connecting a consumer to a 25 mm cable transformer in Jamalpur, Ludhiana. A fine of Rs 9.43 lakh was imposed on the consumer for theft. In addition, a compounding fee of Rs 70,000 was levied under the Electricity Act 2003.

As per the Gill Road police station, it was attached only with line conductors to handle a load of 20 kW. He was fined Rs 8 lakh for stealing electricity. In addition, 23 out of 124 domestic consumers of PAP Complex Jalandhar were found to be stealing electricity during the raids. A fine of Rs 6.23 lakh has been imposed on these consumers.