ISLAMABAD:
The country’s top 10 electricity distributors reveal that they have been registering more than 152 power theft cases every day since 2010, yet the rate of conviction in these cases remains a meagre 1.5 per cent.
More than 279,005 cases were registered by these companies over the past few years but only 4,427 electricity thieves were convicted during the said period.
Official documents submitted to parliament reveal that these 10 electricity companies registered 32,896 FIRs against the accused, which is about 11.7%. At the moment, an amount worth Rs408.4 billion is also outstanding against consumers of these power companies, revealed a document made available to The Express Tribune.
Power theft in provinces
More than 98,610 electricity theft cases were registered by the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company Limited (Pesco) from 2010 to 2013. Pesco, the biggest power distributor in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa (K-P), registered 3,140 FIRs against electricity thieves, while only 1,158 accused were put on trial during this period. Currently, a sum of Rs61.6 billion is outstanding against the electricity consumers in the province.
Similarly, the Lahore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Lesco) registered 93,007 electricity theft cases. Local police registered 9,700 FIRs, and only 654 accused were convicted between 2010 and 2013. Conviction ratio stood at only 0.7%. Currently, an amount of Rs36.4 billion is outstanding against the consumers of this power distribution company.
Quetta Electric Supply Company’s (Qesco) consumers owe an amount worth Rs108.5 billion to the government. The power utility registered 51 cases against electricity thieves this year, and 18 people were convicted. Over Rs10 billion is outstanding against consumers of this city.
The Hyderabad Electricity Supply Company (Hesco) registered 49,218 cases against electricity thieves. Nine of its officers were also found involved in corruption cases. But only 303 people were convicted. Hyderabad city tops in cities when it comes to amounts consumers have to pay, with the staggering amount of Rs19.3 billion to the distribution company. Lahore is second to it.
The Gujranwala Electric Power Company registered 16,453 electricity theft cases during this period. However, only 65 persons have been convicted so far. The Islamabad Electricity Supply Company Limited (Iesco) registered 9,402 cases and only 38 persons were convicted during this period.
The Multan Electric Supply Company (MEPCO) filed 5,305 cases against electricity thieves and 74 officials were found involved in these theft cases. The regulators, through local police, lodged 3,035 FIRs.
Similarly, the Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company Limited (FESCO) registered 3,708 cases against electricity thieves and 47 officials were involved in it. It lodged 15,102 FIRs against thieves but only 897 thieves were convicted.
The Sukkur Electricity Supply Company (Sesco) registered 3,151 cases while only 1,220 people were convicted from 2010 to date.
More cases being registered
Zafaryab Khan, spokesperson for the water and power ministry, says the cases registered go through the criminal procedure for conviction. The fact that these cases are stuck in the same legal system along with other cases makes fast-track conviction impossible. When asked why the trend of electricity theft seems to have accelerated in the last five years, he explained that electricity theft has always been there. “In the last five years, the registration of cases has gone up,” he said.
The numbers look inflated because of the initiative taken by power regulators, according to Khan. Introduction of the new Electricity Theft Act, smart meters and inclusion of law enforcing agencies in raids, according to him, have helped the number of complaints registered increase. On outstanding dues against consumers, Khan said electricity connections are being cut without discrimination.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2014.
COMMENTS (2)
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Those convicted must be jailed. The poor in the country suffer as a result of electricity theft. Invariably the distributors increase the electricity prices which affect those that pay. The convicted people should not be allowsed to reopen their businesses.
What about reverae FIRs? I received bills for power that was never supplied. I even paid 70000 rs on wrong billings in installment but never received no power. Its a fact of life now that 1. You can't cultivate on canal water alone its irratic and insufficient. 2. You can't work a tube well on disco power. It never arrives period. 3. There is no law and order in Punjab. Its the goodwill of pujabi people that things are " hanging in there". Else its a piece of cake to push this govt out.