September Sees 958 Power Theft Cases in Nagpur Worth ₹1.19 Crore

In September, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) reported a staggering 958 instances of power theft across Nagpur city, Nagpur rural, and Wardha circles, amounting to an assessment of ₹1.19 crore. The utility's anti-theft teams successfully recovered ₹65.70 lakh from 486 consumers, highlighting the ongoing issue of electricity pilferage in the region.

The investigation revealed that a total of 5.51 lakh units of electricity were stolen during the month. MSEDCL has so far recovered penalties for 3.07 lakh units, taking action against 901 consumers who were found violating regulations. The penalties imposed on these consumers totaled ₹1.19 crore, indicating the scale of the problem.

Among the circles, Nagpur City Circle recorded the highest number of theft cases, with 387 incidents leading to an assessment of ₹55.90 lakh. The Mahal division was particularly notable, with 103 cases, while other areas such as Civil Lines, Gandhibagh, Butibori, and Congress Nagar also reported significant violations. In Nagpur Rural Circle, 374 cases were identified, resulting in ₹46.90 lakh in assessments, with Mouda being the most affected area.

Wardha Circle contributed to the theft statistics with 197 cases, leading to ₹16.60 lakh in penalties. The division breakdown showed that Wardha recorded 74 cases, while Hinganghat and Arvi reported 71 and 52 cases, respectively. During the crackdown, 351 consumers opted to pay compounding charges to resolve their issues, while FIRs were filed against three individuals who did not cooperate with authorities.

MSEDCL officials have announced plans to intensify their anti-theft initiatives, warning that consumers engaging in unauthorized electricity usage will face strict consequences. The utility has also encouraged those without legal connections to obtain proper electricity services to avoid penalties in the future.