The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the state-owned power utility, has intensified action against locals of Lalitpur district involved in electricity theft. The power utility has found 20 cases of electricity theft—meter tempering and hooking wires to overhead transmission line—in two days in different areas served by Lagankhel distribution centre of the NEA. 

“We have fined those customers and cut their electricity supply,” said Kulman Ghising, managing director of the NEA. “This crusade against the electricity theft will continue. If we face any attempts to obstruct the campaign, we will cut off the power supply completely in such areas.”

In a statement released on Thursday, the NEA had threatened to cut off the power supply to different areas in Lalitpur district if consumers do not stop stealing power. According to the NEA, organised electricity theft is rampant in inner city areas in Lalitpur like Lukhusi, Chyasal, Mangal Bazaar, Ikhalakhu, Dhalachhe, Saugal, Dupat, Pinchhe and Pilachhe, among others.

Areas like Harisiddhi, Ghuitol, Thaiba and Bandegaun served by the Godavari feeder, and Sanagaun, Siddhipur, Lubhu Bazaar and Lakuri Bhanjyang served by the Lubhu feeder are witnessing a high level of electricity theft. Similarly, electricity pilferage is widespread in areas like Sunakothi, Thecho and Lele served by the Chapagaun feeder.

Electricity theft in those areas reaches up to 50 percent, and the NEA is using ‘blackout’ as the last option to stop it, according to the state-owned power utility. The NEA is losing revenue totalling Rs500 million annually due to electricity theft in these areas.

NEA chief Ghising has been meeting with local representatives, police and the local administration and sought their help to stop the power theft. Ghising on Thursday met with Lalitpur Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan, Lalitpur Chief District Officer Mahadev Pant and police chief and requested for their help.

The NEA’s distribution lost 22.90 percent of its total power output at the end of the last fiscal year, most of it due to theft. The power utility is planning to bring down the leakage to 20 percent by the end of this fiscal year.