Electricity pilferage

If the widespread pilferage and wastage of electricity could be checked; consumers would not have faced shortage of electricity and government would have earned due revenues

A special taskforce of the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) launched a drive against pilferage of electricity in different parts of the capital on Monday. It unearthed power worth 1.25 crore pilfered through illegal connections. Theft of electricity is pervasive in the country. It is not only in the capital almost everywhere in the country electricity is being illegally used. Over the past few years, electricity worth crores of taka was pilfered by unsavoury elements in connivance with a section of corrupt power department officials.       
Pilferage of electricity is quite common in poor residential areas. Since electricity theft can be arranged by rigging a line from the power source to where it is needed bypassing a meter, people of low income group are taking advantage of it and are using power in this way. On a larger scale, unscrupulous owners of business organisations are greasing the palms of concerned power department officials to rig direct lines to their buildings or offices without meter. Corrupt staff members of the PDB are allowing the practice to continue in exchange for financial benefits.
Makeshift shops in Dhaka, other cities and big towns keep using electricity through illegal connections. The corrupt employees, particularly the so-called linesmen, are making fortunes from the illegal power consumption. Grill making factories and welding workshops have sprung up here and there in different places in the country. Owners of these are using bulk of the electricity produced. How many of them are using electricity through legal connections? Electricity is also pilfered by the inhabitants of slums. If the widespread pilferage and wastage of electricity could be checked; consumers would not have faced shortage of electricity and government would have earned due revenues. In that case, government would not have to go for raising power price time and again.  
Drive against pilferage of electricity once in a blue moon will not be enough; round the clock vigilance is needed. It is not difficult to detect the illegal lines as they are often above the ground and visible. The corrupt power department employees should be identified and punished. Pilferage of electricity can be reduced greatly by applying technical solutions such as tamper-proof meters, managerial methods such as inspection and monitoring, and in some cases restructuring power systems ownership and regulation. Strong and assertive actions by the relevant authorities can help achieve the goal.  

Electricity pilferage

If the widespread pilferage and wastage of electricity could be checked; consumers would not have faced shortage of electricity and government would have earned due revenues

A special taskforce of the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) launched a drive against pilferage of electricity in different parts of the capital on Monday. It unearthed power worth 1.25 crore pilfered through illegal connections. Theft of electricity is pervasive in the country. It is not only in the capital almost everywhere in the country electricity is being illegally used. Over the past few years, electricity worth crores of taka was pilfered by unsavoury elements in connivance with a section of corrupt power department officials. Pilferage of electricity is quite common in poor residential areas. Since electricity theft can be arranged by rigging a line from the power source to where it is needed bypassing a meter, people of low income group are taking advantage of it and are using power in this way. On a larger scale, unscrupulous owners of business organisations are greasing the palms of concerned power department officials to rig direct lines to their buildings or offices without meter. Corrupt staff members of the PDB are allowing the practice to continue in exchange for financial benefits. Makeshift shops in Dhaka, other cities and big towns keep using electricity through illegal connections. The corrupt employees, particularly the so-called linesmen, are making fortunes from the illegal power consumption. Grill making factories and welding workshops have sprung up here and there in different places in the country. Owners of these are using bulk of the electricity produced. How many of them are using electricity through legal connections? Electricity is also pilfered by the inhabitants of slums. If the widespread pilferage and wastage of electricity could be checked; consumers would not have faced shortage of electricity and government would have earned due revenues. In that case, government would not have to go for raising power price time and again. Drive against pilferage of electricity once in a blue moon will not be enough; round the clock vigilance is needed. It is not difficult to detect the illegal lines as they are often above the ground and visible. The corrupt power department employees should be identified and punished. Pilferage of electricity can be reduced greatly by applying technical solutions such as tamper-proof meters, managerial methods such as inspection and monitoring, and in some cases restructuring power systems ownership and regulation. Strong and assertive actions by the relevant authorities can help achieve the goal.