PSEB recovers Rs 2,453 lakh from defaulters

PNS | Patiala

Chairman of PSEB YS Ratra IAS (Retd) said on Sunday that Board is continuously making efforts to educate people of Punjab about the importance of energy conservation as saving of 1 unit of electricity is equivalent to saving of more than a unit of generation.

Ratra said that saving theft of electricity is even more important than energy conservation as the person stealing the power misuse the electricity. Board's enforcement wing is actively involved in catching the defaulters and penalizing them.

He informed that in last year from January 1st to November 2007 this year Board checked 1,66,748 power connections out of which 48,984 connections were found to be irregular and penalty of Rs 5,835.71 lakhs was imposed on the defaulters and amount of Rs 811.73 lakh has already been recovered from the defaulters. Balance amount shall also be recovered and efforts are being made in this direction.

Ratra added that this year in the period from 1-1-08 to 30-11-2008 Board’s enforcement wing checked 2,12,836 connections which is 27.64 per cent more than previous year. Out of these 53,804 connections were found to have irregularities and a penalty of Rs 8,686.59 lakh has been imposed on the defaulters and Rs 2,453.21 lakh has already been recovered which is 202.22 per cent more than for corresponding period last year.

Ratra said that Board is improving on all fronts and making efforts to provide better services to honest consumers. He appealed to consumers to stay away stealing power which may damage the electricity supply system and invite heavy penalties on them.