TANGEDCO will inspect pandals to prevent Power theft

Chennai: In its latest instructions, Tangedco instructed its officials to inspect all the places where idols would be placed and ensure that there is no theft of electricity during Vinayagar Chathurthi festival on September 2. Illegal use of power in pandals has always been rampant across the city. A senior official said that enforcement wing squads would conduct surprise inspection at the pandals across the city to find out theft of power. “If the festival organisers are found to be drawing power illegally, their connection will be cut and they will have to pay a fine,” the official said. 

According to Tangedco instructions, the organisers of the festival should apply for an extension of supply from the existing service connection along with the requisition letter, consent of the owners of the service connection to draw electricity from their service connection, consent of the landowners where the idols are to be installed, undertaking from the owner of the service connections for billing under temporary supply tariff. An undertaking should be taken from the owner of the service connection agreeing to pay the current consumption charges under temporary supply tariff for the period during the festival. “Fixed charges shall also be collected under temporary supply category for a month or part thereof,” the instruction memo stated. Under temporary supply tariff, the organiser has to pay Rs 12 per unit for power consumption and fixed charge of Rs 690 per kilowatt per month. [COURTESY:DT NEXT]