-Galla S Kiran Kumar,Bureau Chief Telagana (Andhra Pradesh)
Electricity distribution companies (discoms) are suffering huge losses due to the indiscriminate theft of electricity with the help of house thieves.
SPDCL orders action against 14 AEs, four ADEs, DEs and meter readers for theft and theft
of only one meter number – Hyderabad
InElectricity distribution companies (discoms) are suffering huge losses due to the indiscriminate theft of electricity with the help of T thieves. The internal investigation of the State Electricity Regulatory Council (ERC) has revealed that the revenue of the discoms is being lost on a large scale as all the meter readers who are supposed to record the meter reading accurately in the field, the Assistant Engineers (AE), Assistant Divisional Engineers (ADE), and Divisional Engineers (DE) are involved in corruption. The ERC recently brought to the attention of a lawyer named G. Satyanarayana that thousands of connections were made with the same meter number in Nagarkurnool, Kalvakurti, Acchampeta and Kollapur electricity divisions and they were embezzling their bills. South Telangana Discom (SPDCL) vigilance officials inspected 2,783 electricity connections at the field level. 2 of these, It has been found that electricity is being used without actual meters for 101 connections. Vigilance officials have concluded that due to this, there is a loss of Rs.9.32 lakh per month. The rest of the services were checked with the district officials by taking photos on the ‘Section Automation’ (Sasa) mobile app. ERC Chairman Sreeranga Rao said that out of total 10,783 connections, 4,842 services were involved in electricity theft by not installing meters. He suggested to the public that if any staff is involved in corruption in the field, they can directly complain to the ERC. Discom has issued a fresh order to Nagarkurnool district electricity officer to take disciplinary action against 14 AEs, four ADEs, one DE and concerned private meter readers for their involvement in the irregularities. From now on, if it is found that no electricity meter has been installed anywhere, the officials of all the circles have been directed to file a complaint at the nearest police station. It has been clarified that not only fine will be collected from those who use electricity without meter, but also additional money will be collected for installation of new meter.
Open to illegalities..
A meter is usually installed when the electricity connection is given. Meter number and electricity connection number are different. Users pay monthly bills based on connection number. Do not care about meter number. According to the officials, what has happened now is that many people have been given connections with the same meter number. The bill goes to someone for that meter. They went to their houses and collected money privately.
From now on, the bill will only be approved by the AE
According to DISCOM rules, the reading of electricity meters should be recorded every month by meter readers belonging to private companies and bills should be issued. The local electricity authorities should go directly and take readings every two months to check whether they are working properly or not. Realizing that this is not happening properly, the discom has created a ‘Sasa’ mobile app. In this, after taking a photo of the electricity meter, the reading is recorded and goes to the concerned AE phone. Electricity bill will be issued only after AE checks and approves it. DISCOM has decided to strictly implement this from now on.
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