Staggering tally of 40,000 allegedly defunct smart meters reflects an alarming scale of electricity theft and revenue leakage in Jammu region
JAMMU : In revelations that could put the functioning of Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) under an intense scanner, the Power Development Department Employees Association on Thursday alleged that electricity theft in the Jammu region was flourishing under a system of alleged patronage, even as the Corporation remained conspicuously silent on thousands of allegedly non-functional smart meters and the failure to initiate criminal action against habitual power thieves.
The allegations surfaced during a massive protest held by the employees’ association in support of its demands. The protesters also raised serious questions over what they described as selective enforcement and the apparent reluctance of authorities to invoke the law against repeat offenders.
According to the association, nearly 40,000 smart meters are lying non-functional, raising troubling questions about monitoring, billing and accountability.
The association questioned why the issue had not been addressed by the Managing Director, JPDCL, and whether an audit had been conducted to determine the scale of revenue loss and responsibility for the malfunctioning meters.
More significantly, the employees’ body alleged that habitual electricity theft has become a practice rather than exception especially in Jammu old city areas, causing a massive drain on public revenue.
What’s stopping the authorities to file FIRs against offenders when the power theft is rampant and alarming number of smart meters were left dysfunctional, question the agitating employees.
The charge assumes significance because JPDCL itself had earlier announced a tough line against power theft, including registration of FIRs under Section 135 of the Electricity Act.
In 2024, the then JPDCL management had directed officials to initiate FIRs against consumers found stealing electricity through hooking and meter bypassing.
Even this year, JPDCL enforcement teams detected illegal consumption, excess load, damaged meters and meter bypassing during inspections in several areas of Jammu city, with the Corporation itself acknowledging the resulting loss to government revenue.
The employees’ association, however, has now raised the larger and more uncomfortable question: If theft is being detected, why are habitual offenders not being consistently prosecuted?
The allegation, if independently established, could point to serious gaps between JPDCL’s stated zero-tolerance policy and enforcement on the ground.
The protesters demanded transparency on the status of the 40,000 allegedly non-functional smart meters, details of power-theft cases detected in Jammu region, FIRs actually registered, and action taken against repeat offenders and officials, if any, found responsible for shielding them.
JK Global News Take: The allegations have thrown up disturbing questions that JPDCL’s top brass can no longer afford to ignore. If around 40,000 smart meters are indeed lying defunct for long in identified pockets, what explains the prolonged silence and lack of visible corrective action? More importantly, what is preventing the authorities from invoking the law against habitual bijli chor whose illegal consumption is allegedly bleeding the public exchequer? The silence of those entrusted with protecting revenue is becoming as alarming as the theft itself. JPDCL must explain because every unit stolen is ultimately paid for by the State and largely defeating the goal of round the clock electricity to honest consumers.