Cracking down on illegal power consumption in the state, Haryana Power Utilities has found 16,214 cases of electricity theft and imposed a penalty of Rs 58.48 crore on erring consumers in the month of July.
“Out of the total penalty, over Rs 21.10 crore had already been recovered. Earlier, electricity theft of Rs 40 crore was found in the state in the month of June. This figure was about Rs 35 crore in May,” said a spokesman of Power Utilities.
He said that teams of power utilities are conducting raids across the state and people have also shown support in preventing power theft cases.
The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam had detected 6945 cases of electricity theft in July and imposed fine of Rs 28.35 crore, of which Rs 11.48 crore was recovered. Similarly, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam had detected 9269 cases of theft and imposed fine of Rs 30.13 crore, of which Rs 9.62 crore was recovered, said the spokesman.
He said that a large number of cases of electricity theft in RO water plants, poultry farms, hotels, restaurants and small industries have came to light in the state.
Action is being taken by the department against the offenders under the Electricity Act. Those who did not deposit fine have been arrested after lodging FIR. In case of government employee involved in power theft, their departments were being informed to take departmental action, said the spokesman.
The Power Department has established the toll free number 18001801011 on which large number of consumers are being constantly reported for electricity theft cases, he said.
10 per cent of the fine imposed by the Department is being given as incentive money to a person who gives information about theft and his identity is kept secret. The toll free number can be reported from 9 am to 9 pm in the working day, he added.