Mumbai News: Adani Electricity Cracks Down On Power Theft With 1,166 FIRs In FY 2024-2025, Cuts AT&C Losses To 4.70%

Mumbai: Adani Electricity during Financial Year (FY) 2024-2025, has registered 1,166 First Information Reports (FIRs) against perpetrators of power theft, a substantial increase compared to 974 FIRs in FY 2023-2024. This decisive action has resulted in a 0.77% reduction in Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, bringing them down to 4.70% in FY 2024-25 from 5.47% in the previous year.

This achievement positions Adani Electricity among Discoms with the lowest AT&C losses nationwide, especially considering its extensive network and diverse consumer base, it informed via a press statement on Tuesday July 8th.

During FY 2024-25, Adani Electricity conducted 37,424 mass raids, marking a 41% increase compared to 26,628 mass raids in FY 2023-24. This intensified vigilance also reflects a 20% increase in FIRs and a 44% increase in odd-timing raids (including early morning, late evening, and holiday raids).

Additionally, there was a 3% increase in the number of power theft cases booked. During raids, 60.90 tons of illegal wires were recovered. A total theft of 23.76 million units, amounting to Rs 44.92 crore was assessed.

In FY 2024-25 Adani Electricity's vigilance team uncover four major power theft cases:

April 2024: Adani Electricity's Vigilance team discovered a construction company in Ghatkopar illegally drawing power directly from the meter incoming terminal. This led to a power theft case valued at Rs. 40,50,589. The Discom registered an FIR against the customer at Pant Nagar Police Station, Ghatkopar.

January 2025: In the second significant theft case, the Vigilance team apprehended a customer operating an adhesive manufacturing unit in Andheri using an unauthorized electricity connection. This resulted in power theft valued at Rs. 51.09 lakhs. An FIR was lodged against the customer at Kherwadi Police Station, Bandra.

February 2025: The third case involved a customer in the printing, binding, lamination, and packaging industry in Andheri. This customer was found to be involved in power theft through meter tampering, using an external shunt wire on the Y and B phases. This led to a power theft case worth Rs. 32.04 lakhs. An FIR was lodged against the industrial customer at Kherwadi Police Station.

March 2025: A customer operating a gym and fitness center, despite having two official connections for its premises, was involved in power theft. The gym was tapping all three phases directly from the main meter cabin source and extending them to a changeover switch located within the gym premises. This action led to a power theft case worth Rs. 38,36,948. An FIR was registered against the customer at Govandi Police Station.

Stealing electricity is a non-bailable offense. Under Section 135 of the Electricity Act 2003, an offender can be punished with a fine, a jail term of up to three years, or both, once proven guilty.

Impact of Power Theft on Infrastructure

Power theft is in high-demand areas like slum clusters, where new network development is challenging due to space constraints, severely overloads the existing infrastructure. This strain increases maintenance costs due to more frequent cable and transformer failures.

"Power theft unfairly burdens honest, paying consumers," stated an Adani Electricity spokesperson regarding the FY 2024-25 power theft data. "Adani Electricity is committed to eliminating the menace of power theft. By combating such unlawful activities, we safeguard the interests of our customers. We will intensify our efforts in specific areas to further reduce AT&C losses this year."

"Adani Electricity is unwavering in its commitment to providing reliable and affordable power to all Mumbaikars," said Adani Electricity spokesperson. The significant reduction in AT&C losses this year is a direct result of our intensified efforts against power theft. This not only safeguards our infrastructure but also alleviates the financial burden on our honest, paying consumers by enabling us to maintain competitive tariffs.”

Registered 1166 FIRs for power theft in FY 2024-25, compared to 974 FIRs in FY 2023-24.

During raids, 60.90 tons of illegal wires were recovered. A theft of 23.76 million units, amounting to Rs 44.92 crore was assessed.

Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) Losses were commendably brought down from 5.47% in FY 2023-24 to 4.70% in FY 2024-25.

This reduction in AT&C losses will alleviate the burden on honest, paying consumers.

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