PESHAWAR
\nPeshawar Electricity Supply Company (PESCO) spokesman here Monday said stealing of electricity was a social crime and upto 7 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs10 million fine or both could be imposed against the power thieves.
\n\u201cLike banks and houses\u2019 robberies, electricity\u2019s stealing was also a crime. Besides three to seven years rigorous imprisonment in jails, a fine of Rs one million to Rs10 million or both could be imposed against the power stealers under the law,\u201d Usman Aslam, PESCO spokesman told APP on Monday.
\nHe said that videos of the direct hooks of accused involved in power pilferage were being prepared so that prompt legal action could be taken against them.
\nUsman said PESCO had suffered 42.10 percent losses due to electricity theft this year against 42.15 percent in 2022, showing 0.5 percent reduction due to crackdown against electricity stealers this year.
\nThe anti electricity theft operation has been intensified in KP where over 600 direct hooks were removed besides imposing over Rs eight million fine, he said.
\nHe said applications for registration of FIRs against more than 300 persons involved in electricity theft were submitted by the SDOs.
\n\u201cThe electricity theives, who were caught red handed, were handed over to police,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cWe are also concentrating on recovery of the outstanding dues in KP where 92pc recovery was achieved this year due to the company\u2019s successful strategies and actions against the defaulted domestic, agriculture and industrial consumers,\u201d he said.
\nKeeping in view of the country\u2019s shabby economic situation, he said crackdown against electricity stealers were the best option to provide relief to consumers in billing.
\n\u201cProtest is no solution to any problem. It is also the responsibility of the people to make a close vigil on their sorrounding and inform PESCO authorities for timely action against power thieves,\u201d he said.
\nThe spokesman urged people to call 118 for sharing of information against elements involved in power pilferage so that prompt action could be taken against the power thieves.
\nBesides social boycotts, he said that electricity stealers should be given the same treatment in society as being provided to the other thieves.
\nHe said consumers who paid bills were also suffered due to direct hooks in the shape of extra load shedding and urged masses to expose elements involved in electricity pilferage besides make their social boycotts.
\nHe said that Deputy Commissioners and DPOs have provided security to the PESCO staff during ongoing campaign against power theft in the province.
\n\u201cAfter seeing promptness in the anti theft electricity operations, several stealers have removed direct hooks voluntarily,\u201d he said.
\nUsman said power stealing were not only overloading the transformers but also caused fluctuations besides increase line losses.
\nThe spokesman said the electricity demand and supply gap could be narrowed by removing illegal connections for which cooperation of consumers carried vital importance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (PESCO) spokesman here Monday said stealing of electricity was a social crime and upto 7 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs10 million fine or both could be imposed against the power thieves. \u201cLike banks and houses\u2019 robberies, electricity\u2019s stealing was also a crime. Besides three to seven years rigorous imprisonment in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-355314","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n