NEW DELHI: To curb large-scale theft of power in Delhi, the data of distribution transformers being installed all over the Capital would soon be put up on websites for public scrutiny so that people are able to know the areas in which the problem of theft is the maximum.

Disclosing this, the Principal Secretary (Power) and Chairman and Managing Director of Delhi Transco Limited, Rakesh Mehta, said on Friday that though the Supreme Court had banned industries in a large number of residential areas, not only do they continue to operate blatantly, the power theft indulged in by them is also causing major losses besides being a major reason for frequent breakdowns in several parts of the Capital.

In order to check theft of power, Mr Mehta said the Capital would be viewed as numerous small zones for each of which the distribution transformer would provide the data on the extent of theft. Stating that quantum of theft by industrial units is much more than by jhuggi clusters, he said, cutting of power to those areas would be considered where the extent of theft is more than 60 per cent. However, he added, that as per the Indian Electricity Act no one can be refused electricity, so at present penalty for thefts is the only option.

Holding out that these illegal units are also causing loss of revenue to the Excise, Service Tax and VAT departments, Mr Mehta stressed the need for concerted action against them. The official said since stolen power has to be compensated by other consumers, there is an urgent need to formulate laws for curbing the menace. But in Delhi, he said, the constitution of special police stations under the command of the power officials is not taking place because the distribution companies are privately owned and there is difficulty in prosecuting the offenders quickly and effectively.

While thefts and resulting loss of revenue are one of the reasons for increase in power tariffs, Mr Mehta said a five per cent to 10 per cent hike in power tariff to pay for the higher cost of raw material which goes into the generation, transmission and distribution of power is to be expected from the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, which has recently received the aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) petition for 2006-07 from Delhi Transco Limited and the three distribution companies -- BSES Yamuna Power Limited, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and North Delhi Power Limited.

With Delhi Transco -- which subsidised power supply -- showing a net revenue gap of Rs 1,303 crores, the DERC would have to either cover the loss through either increase in power tariff or raising of subsidy from the Delhi Government. As the 10 per cent tariff hike of 2005 was also subsidised by the Government and the distribution companies and the one year period ends in July, the Rs 180 crore worth of hike is also staring people in the face.

But the most ticklish aspect remains the culmination of the five year contract period of Delhi Transco with the distribution companies in this financial year. For thereafter the supply of subsidised power to the distribution companies would come to an end and they would have to purchase power at market rates. That is expected to lead to another substantial increase in power tariffs.

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