(a) the steps being taken by the Government to stop the pilferage of power at the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) stages;
(b) the name of States where steps have been taken to reduce T&D losses; and
(c) the details of assistance extended by the Union Government to States during last three years for the purpose?
THE MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI P.M. SAYEED)
(a) : The Electricity Act, 2003 provides a legal framework for making theft of electricity a
cognizable offence. Under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003, whoever dishonestly taps
lines or cables or service wires, tampers, damages or destroys meters etc., shall be punishable
with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years or with fine or with both. Under
Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) incentive is being provided
to State Governments/Power Utilities for reducing cash losses, a significant portion of which is
on account of theft of power.
(b) : All the States are taking steps to reduce T&D losses which, inter-alia, includes metering upto 11 kV feeder
level and 100 per cent metering of all consumers.
(c) : A statement showing the details of the funds released to the States during the last three years
under investment component of APDRP is at Annexure. An amount of Rs.882. 58 crores has also been
released as incentive under APDRP to the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh
and Maharashtra for cash loss reduction.