Losses due to power theft and other illegal means have put PSPCL officials in a spot. At a state-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, Tarn Taran district has topped the list of districts that have reported power theft incidents. Bhikhiwind division falling under the border belt has suffered 80 per cent loss in Urban Power Supply (UPS) followed by the Patti division with 71 per cent and Tarn Taran with 51 per cent. The figures have been provided state-level officials. Around six years ago, Powercom had spent crores of rupees to install domestic electric meters outside the house of residents in pillar boxes in Bhikhiwind. The objective was to prevent power theft. Powercom also removed all naked cables to check the issue. With passing of time, the meters installed in the pillars have developed snags and the power supply is directly reaching the consumers. The Powercom is getting only 20 per cent revenue. A few days ago, Powercom officials were held captive by farmers in Manochahal Kalan village where a team of the department had gone to check power theft.
