Theft of Electricity

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Theft of electricity happens when someone tampers meters, damages electric meters or equipment, etc.(( Section 135, The Electricity Act, 2003.)).

Punishment for Theft of Electricity

The punishment for theft of electricity is jail time of up to 3 years and/or a fine.
- If the amount of electricity stolen does not exceed 10 kilowatt, then the fine on first offence will be at least 3 times of the financial gain caused by the theft, and it will be 6 times on every subsequent conviction.
- In case the amount stolen exceeds 10 kilowatts, then one may be punished with jail time between 6 months and 5 years, in addition to a fine. In this case, one will also be debarred from getting any supply of electricity for a period between 3 months and 2 years.
The suppliers of electricity can cut off the supply of electricity if a consumer is found guilty of theft of electricity, without issuing a notice, and this supply will be restored only once the consumer has paid a fine and compensated the supplier(( MP Electricity Board v. Harsh Wood Product.)).

Complaining about Theft of Electricity

To report theft of electricity, you should approach the respective electricity providing board/corporation in your state. For example, for Delhi, you can lodge a complaint with BSES Rajdhani, you can use WhatsApp to submit information related to the problem at 9555010022. Read more here to see how to file a complaint with BSES Rajdhani.

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Related Resources

What is Theft?

Theft is when someone takes away your property without your consent. Theft is a crime in India and the person committing theft is punished with jail time of up to 3 years and/or a fine.

Types of Theft

Theft is not just a crime if personal items are stolen. Many other forms of theft are there and the law punishes people who commit theft based on the situation as well as depending on who they are.

Theft of Computer-Related Data

Sometimes, your personal data stored on the computer may be stolen. This is also a form of theft, under the Indian law.

House Break-Ins

Under the Indian law, when someone commits theft by breaking into a house, they are punished with a higher penalty.

Complaining about Theft

If you face any kind of theft, such as theft of personal items or theft during traveling, you can file an FIR with the nearest police station.

Theft by House Help/Servant (Domestic Worker)

Theft by a servant or house help is treated more seriously than general punishment for theft as the punishment is higher. Punishment for the servant/help is jail time of up to 7 years and a fine.