Power theft worth Rs 14.5 crore detected in Marathwada

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The state power distribution utility has detected power theft worth nearly Rs 14.5 crore in Marathwada between April and Dec 2025, officials said.Tampering with electricity meters and using metal hooks to draw power illegally were among the rampant practices used by errant consumers to steal power, the authorities said.Aditya Jivane, the joint managing director of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) for Marathwada, has appealed to consumers to use electricity only through authorised channels."A massive campaign against electricity theft was conducted over nine months — from April last year until Dec 31, 2025. The rigorous drives against electricity thieves in Marathwada sent a strong message among consumers," he said.The drive against power theft saw the inspection of 3,799 electricity meters for suspected theft and irregularities. Of them, electricity theft and irregularities were found in 1,727 meters."In these cases, an estimated electricity bill penalty amount of nearly Rs 14.5 crore was levied for the theft of 16,091,223 units of power. Of this amount, Rs 8.8 crore was recovered. Cases were filed against 55 of the electricity thieves," Sunil Jadhav, the deputy chief public relations officer of MSEDCL for Marathwada, said.According to section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003, unauthorised use of electricity from a neighbour, using a load exceeding the sanctioned capacity, and unauthorised use of electricity for a different category than the sanctioned one are prohibited. As per section 135, tampering with meters, using electricity by hooking up to the lines, and tapping service wires invite legal action."The campaign against power theft will continue in future as well. Unauthorised use of electricity should be avoided, as such practices are highly unsafe as well," power utility officials said.