Section 135 of EA 2003, Electricity Act : Section 135: Theft Of Electricity

Explanation using Example

Imagine a situation where a homeowner, Mr. Sharma, has been experiencing unusually low electricity bills for several months. Suspecting something might be amiss, the electricity supply company conducts an inspection of Mr. Sharma's property. During the inspection, they discover that Mr. Sharma had illegally connected a wire directly to the main supply line before the electricity meter, allowing him to use electricity without it being recorded by the meter.

Under Section 135(1)(a) of the Electricity Act, 2003, Mr. Sharma's actions constitute an offense of dishonestly tapping into the electricity supply. Consequently, he could face a penalty that includes imprisonment, a fine, or both. The fine would be at least three times the financial gain from the theft if the abstracted load is less than 10 kilowatt, as per the act's provisions.

Furthermore, the electricity supply company would be within their rights to immediately disconnect Mr. Sharma's electricity supply under Section 135(1A). They would also be required to file a complaint with the police within 24 hours of the disconnection. If Mr. Sharma pays the assessed amount for the stolen electricity, his supply could be restored, but the company is still obligated to pursue legal action.

The electricity company's officers, authorized by the state government, could also search Mr. Sharma's premises for any devices used to steal electricity under Section 135(2). All evidence gathered could be used in legal proceedings against him.

This example illustrates how Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003 is used to combat electricity theft and ensure that offenders are penalized accordingly.