To catch a power thief
M. M. Goel

Electricity Theft: Empowering People and Reforming Power Sector
by Professor Surinder Kumar, Manohar Publishers, New Delhi. Pages 176. Rs 400

TO achieve sustainable development of the power sector in the present economic scenario, there is an urgent need to understand the associated problems, including power theft. The power system in India is facing a number of technical and financial hurdles in spite of its impressive expansion. The demand for power continues to outstrip the supply in India.

Two major factors responsible for the poor technical performance of the Indian electric power system are low level of capacity utilisation of the thermal plants and high transmission and distribution (T and D) losses. In India, the T-and-D losses range between 21 and 26 per cent, whereas the internationally accepted norm is 7 to 10 per cent.

According to an estimate, 12 to 15 per cent T-and-D losses are acceptable in the Indian conditions. By reducing the loss to the tune of 7 per cent we can save 30.23 billion units, which can fetch Rs 6,276 crore, which is adequate for the additional generating capacity of 2000 MW. Therefore, there is a strong case for reducing the T-and-D losses in all times to come.

The book is an outcome of two research projects undertaken by the author in 1996 and 1998 that established Professor Surinder Kumar as one of the leading scholars in energy economics. In preface and introduction, the author says that power theft is a social menace, highly institutionalised and eating into the vitals like cancer.

The author has reviewed the technical (generation, transmission and distribution) and financial performance of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) during l975-1995. The observations on the extent of power theft in Punjab are only the tip of the iceberg. The 18 remedial steps taken by the PSEB are necessary, but not sufficient to resolve the crisis.

A review of technical, financial, transmission and distribution losses of the erstwhile Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) during 1967-1998 reveals that electricity produced is not sufficient for meeting its demand in the state. The T-and-D losses in Haryana were in the range of 22 to 29 per cent during 1968 to 1972, which increased to the range of 31-34 per cent during 1995-1998 and justified the power reforms and privatisation.

The analysis of the electricity reform is too hasty to be relied on at the moment and can be studied a little later. The 12 inferences of the perceptions of Punjab consumers regarding power theft are nearer to reality and the author deserve to be appreciated for developing the a suitable questionnaire. The 15 conclusions emerging from the analysis of the perceptions of the Punjab employees regarding power theft make one understand the situation well. Power reforms and power distribution will not be successful unless power theft is tackled.

A change in the attitude of the people is the need of the hour, which requires social marketing and media management. The Panchayati Raj bodies can also help the states control this problem. The book suggests policy implications that the authorities concerned can use to bring the efficiency up.

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