Power theft in Punjab continues to burn a hole in the Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) pockets, with Punjabis stealing power worth over Rs 2,000 crore in 2024-25, averaging around Rs 5.5 crore per day.
On job, says minister
“We have managed to cut transmission losses. Now, the focus is on curbing power thefts. The enforcement wing teams are well-equipped to check the menace,” says Harbhajan Singh, Power Minister
The border and west zones of the PSPCL account for 77 per cent of loss-making feeders, denting the corporation by Rs 1,442 crore during this period.
Religious deras, police stations, farmer union members, politically affiliated bodies and even some sarpanches continue to use illegal “kundi” connections to steal power in Punjab. From underground wires to makeshift hooks, tampering with meters and stopping meters, villagers employ every trick to avoid paying for electricity.
In 2015-16, losses due to power theft amounted to Rs 1,200 crore. The figure rose to Rs 2,050 crore in the last fiscal and is likely to increase further. Despite availing free power benefits provided by successive governments, the greed for “more free power” continues to burden the state government and honest taxpayers.
A major portion of the Rs 2,000 crore theft is attributed to consumers trying to keep their meter readings below 600 units, the threshold for free power for domestic consumers.
According to recent PSPCL data, the border and west zones account for 77 per cent (1,616 out of 2,099) of the feeders causing losses, amounting to Rs 1,442 crore. In the border zone, 19 feeders have losses between 80 per cent and 90 per cent, located in Patti and Bhikhiwind divisions of Tarn Taran circle. Another 68 feeders have losses between 70 per cent and 80 per cent, with 44 in the border zone and 24 in the west zone. Notorious divisions in this category include Ajnala West in suburban circle, Patti Bhikhiwind in Tarn Taran circle, Bhagta in Bhatinda circle and Zira in Ferozepur circle.
Additionally, 79 feeders in the border zone and 40 in the west zone fall under the 60 per cent to 70 per cent loss category out of a total of 124 feeders. As many as 204 feeders suffer losses between 50 per cent and 60 per cent, with 112 in the west zone, 53 in the border zone and 39 in the south zone.
The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), in its tariff order for 2025-26, noted that feeder-wise losses presented a grim picture and called for action by the PSPCL.
VK Gupta, spokesperson, All-India Power Engineers Federation, said power theft would persist unless there was strong political will to curb it. He emphasised the need for consistent raids in high-theft divisions.
Mohtam Singh, SE, Tarn Taran circle, acknowledged that the border areas like Bhikhiwind, Khalra, Amarkot, Khemkaran, Patti, Kairon and Sarhali were infamous for illegal power use. He said, “There are many repeat offenders and despite surveillance efforts, people defiantly break open pillar boxes, rendering enforcement measures futile.”
(with inputs from Neeraj Bagga in Amritsar)
