Shopowner told to pay Rs 3.6L for power theft

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 20

The enforcement team of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has imposed a penalty of Rs 3.6 lakh on a commercial consumer, Guru Nanak Sweet Shop, situated at Guru Nanakpura, Chugitti, near here, for allegedly committing power theft.

An FIR too will be registered against the consumer soon, said a spokesperson for the PSPCL here today.

The team raided the premises of the consumer on Wednesday. During the checking of the connection, it was found that the sanctioned load of the shop was 1 kW whereas the load was 15 kW. The meter of the consumer was found tampered. During the checking of the meter at ME Lab here yesterday, it was found 74 per cent slow on meter-testing bench.

The PSPCL officials said during the inspection, three additional resistances were found connected in its circuit to slow down the meter permanently. The resistances were fixed by cutting the rear body of the meter. Further, the consumer fixed the cut portion and painted the rear side of the meter so that it could not be detected through naked eyes. But an enforcement officer acted intelligently and examined the meter at the site and found "earth tamper" indication on it and got the same packed for further probe.