Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited will spend about ₹3 crore to tackle electricity theft in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura area. The plan includes installing nearly 350 kilometres of armoured cable between electricity poles and household meters.
The move follows 4 months of monitoring on feeders serving the area. The monitoring identified electricity theft on 5 feeders connected to Banbhoolpura, according to the department’s findings.
108 homes found involved in recent inspection
During a recent enforcement drive, 7 Power Corporation teams inspected the area and detected electricity theft at 108 homes. Officials found suspected tampering both in lines running from poles to houses and in electricity meters.
The department is now preparing to replace existing pole-to-meter connections with armoured cables for all connections in the area. Executive Engineer Pradeep Kumar said the tender process for installing the cables has been completed.
How the armoured cable will work
Department officials said the cable has an iron covering designed to make unauthorised cutting difficult. They said an attempt to cut the covering could trigger a fire and short circuit, immediately alerting the department.
Officials also said the system would help identify the location of an attempted theft quickly. A departmental team could then reach the site and take action, based on the alert and inspection findings.
The project is intended to address losses linked to illegal connections and meter tampering. The department has not provided a separate timeline for completing the cable installation.
Smart meters planned outside homes
Alongside the cable work, the Power Corporation will run a special campaign to install smart meters outside every home in the area. These meters will enable online monitoring of each consumer’s electricity use.
The department expects smart meters to reduce discrepancies in manual readings and improve transparency in recording consumption. Together, the cable and meter measures are aimed at making unauthorised connections and unusual usage easier to detect.
Conclusion
Banbhoolpura will receive about 350 kilometres of armoured cable and smart meters outside homes as part of a planned ₹3 crore effort to curb electricity theft. The tender process for the cable work has been completed, while installation is the next reported step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where will the electricity theft-control project take place?
The project will take place in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani.
Q. How much will the project cost?
The Power Corporation plans to spend about ₹3 crore.
Q. How much armoured cable will be installed?
Nearly 350 kilometres of armoured cable will be installed from poles to meters.
Q. How many homes were found with electricity theft during the recent inspection?
Electricity theft was detected at 108 homes during the inspection.
Q. How many feeders showed electricity theft during monitoring?
4 months of monitoring identified theft on 5 feeders connected to the area.
Q. What other equipment will be installed?
Smart meters will be installed outside every home to monitor electricity consumption online and improve reading transparency.
Q. What is the status of the armoured-cable work?
Executive Engineer Pradeep Kumar said the tender process has been completed.
