MUMBAI: State power utility MSEDCL on Sunday said it has intensified its drive against power theft, detecting 19,599 cases across domestic, commercial, industrial and other consumer categories over the past four months. Of these, 11,032 cases were detected in July alone, highlighting the scale of electricity theft in the state.According to MSEDCL, inspections conducted since April found 15,965 cases involving direct hooking of power lines or tampering with electricity meters, resulting in power theft worth Rs 30.36 crore. Assessment of another 3,634 cases is still underway.The anti-theft campaign was launched in April as part of efforts to reduce distribution and commercial losses. The highest number of theft cases were detected in the Konkan region (7,496), followed by Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (4,597), Nagpur (4,521) and Pune (2,985) regions.Of the cases assessed so far, MSEDCL has issued electricity theft bills amounting to Rs 30.36 crore. Around 6,629 consumers have paid Rs 14.12 crore, while penalties and settlement charges are also being levied. The utility has recovered Rs 1.85 crore in compounding charges in 4,959 cases so far.The drive gathered momentum in July, when MSEDCL intensified field inspections and detected 11,032 fresh cases of theft through illegal hooks and meter tampering. Assessments in 8,462 cases established theft worth Rs 15.11 crore, and corresponding bills have been issued. Consumers involved in 3,036 cases have already paid Rs 6.22 crore, while assessments and penalty calculations continue in the remaining cases.Region-wise, July detections included 4,084 cases in Konkan, 2,365 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 2,324 in Nagpur and 2,259 in Pune.MSEDCL managing director Lokesh Chandra warned that consumers who fail to pay the assessed amounts and penalties within the stipulated period will face criminal action under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The law provides for fines and imprisonment of up to three years for power theft.The utility is also inspecting disconnected connections and taking action against defaulters found illegally sourcing electricity from other locations.
