CM warns against billing errors, power theft

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 4. The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, has asked A.P. Transco officials to be cautious while preparing electricity bills since mistakes in computation would cause avoidable problems with consumers.

Interacting with District Collectors and Superintending Engineers of the AP Transco through the video conference facility and reviewing the ongoing drive by the Vigilance and Enforcement Wing against power theft earlier here on Tuesday, he threatened to haul up the official concerned for billing errors. Mr. Naidu announced that the question of waiving surcharge for LT and domestic consumers and payment of arrears in instalments would be considered sympathetically.

Mr. Naidu said at least 15 lakh electricity meters were required for regularising domestic connections alone at a cost of Rs. 214 crores. He indicated that the question of regularising illegal agricultural connections would be considered at the next Cabinet meeting.

At a review meeting earlier, Mr. Naidu said erring linemen and power officials would also be punished if energy theft was not checked. The Chief Minister did not rule out collusion between power staff and thieves in several cases, and said the consumers could not be punished for AP Transco's mistakes.

The Chief Minister informed the video conference that 19.28 lakh applications for regularisation of domestic connections, 2.62 lakh for agricultural connections and another 32,967 for increase in the load were received by AP Transco between June 19 and 30 along with Rs. 76 crores in fee.

The Energy Secretary, Mr. V. S. Sampath, announced a detailed time table for checking power theft and regularising domestic connections of applicants who had applied for regularisation during last month's drive. He said 50,000 connections would be released in the first week and their number increased progressively every week and the installation of meters completed by August 31.

He said that AP Transco must disconnect within one week all the connections where power was being drawn by attaching a hook to overhead conductors. After this drive, they must send compliance reports to the Government certifying that there were no more cases of power theft.

The Secretary said the proposed Bill providing for severe punishment for power pilferage was being sent to the Centre for approval. The CMD of AP Transco, Mr. A. K. Kutty, urged Collectors to instruct VAOs to assist linemen in verifying the names of persons who had applied for regularisation. Suspecting mischief in some applications, he said the names of all the applications would be displayed in Gram Panchayats and objections called for.

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Section  : Southern States
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