KPDCL announces remote disconnection for meter tampering

Srinagar, July 15: Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) Monday advised its smart-metered consumers to shun the practice of unauthorised use of electricity by hooking which attracts punitive clauses under the Electricity Act.

A KPDCL spokesman in a statement issued here said that during inspection drives, KPDCL booked several consumers in urban and semi-urban areas of Kashmir division for bypassing meters and laying unbridled hooks with the sole intention of stealing power.

He said that reports of hooking had been received from all city subdivisions and a few district headquarters where smart meters had been installed.

“KPDCL is taking swift action against hooking which begins with remote disconnection of the consumer’s electricity supply, followed by recovery of energy consumed illegally,” he said outlining steps KPDCL took to combat power theft.

“Some of the smart-metered areas badly affected by hooking include Mominabad, Batmaloo, Tengpora, Alocha Bagh in ESD Huzuribagh, Mini Housing Colony and Rose Enclave in ESD Chanapora, Bemina in ESD Watal Kadal, KP Bagh in ESD Sheikh Bagh, Buchwara in ESD Dalgate, Nadroo and Old Baghat in ESD Baghat,” the spokesman said.

He said that illegal hooking by consumers has also been reported from K K Moulla, Pather Masjid, Habba Kadal, Rainawari, Khanyar, Hawal, Zakura, Nishat, Anantnag, Baramulla I, and Sopore I and II subdivisions.

KPDCL, which has mapped all consumers found involved in hooking, would also present challan in the designated courts under the Electricity Act for the imposition of hefty fines on consumers habitual of meter tampering and hooking on bare conductors.

“FIRs have also been registered against 35 consumers for tampering and bypassing of smart meters,” the spokesman said.

He said that KPDCL had so far installed 2,99,755 smart meters in Kashmir division under PMDP I and II, of which 1,21,651 smart meters had been converted into prepaid mode.

“Prepaid consumer has the advantage of daily bill generation and checking of energy used. He also has the advantage of recharging his account in advance to enjoy a reliable power supply,” the KPDCL spokesman said.