Date:05/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120554880500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Power theft cases to be withdrawn

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Nearly one lakh energy theft cases pending against power consumers in the domestic sector in the State as on March 31, 2008, will be withdrawn with a waiver of “assessment value” and compounding fee due from them.

The electricity connections to their households will be restored on payment of a reconnection charge of Rs. 125.

The four power distribution companies on Thursday issued instructions to their offices all over the State to this effect, asking them not to go ahead with the cases and instead resume power supply to the affected households. This followed a directive issued to the companies by the government.

The withdrawal of cases will, however, be allowed in case of consumers with a connected load up to 1,000 watts.

A senior Vidyut Soudha official said that both “assessment value” and “compounding fee” would waived in case of domestic consumers having a connected load up to 250 watts, while scrapping the theft cases. But those with connected load of 250-1000 watts and facing cases would have to pay compounding fee of Rs. 1,000.

P. Gopal Reddy, CMD, AP Southern Discom, said both categories of consumers would have to pay Rs. 125 for restoration of connection under Rajiv Gandhi Grameena Vidyuteekaran Yojana.

The decision will benefit 1.06 lakh consumers.