Electricity Act 2003 Section 135

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Electricity-Act-2003-Section-135

Electricity Act 2003 Section 135 deals with Theft of Energy. Section 135(1) of Electricity Act, 2003 as amended by Electricity (amendment) Act , 2007.

Theft of Energy – Electricity Act 2003 Section 135



Theft of Energy: Theft of electricity is defined as dishonestly doing the tapping, tamperng of meter or steal electricity .

Read Also: [Latest PDF] Electricity Act 2003|Indian Electricity Act 2003 PDF

a) Taps: overhead or underground


b) Tampers meter:

  • usage of tampered meter
  • current reversing transformer
  • loop connection
  • other device interferes with accurate/proper registration.


c) Other device/method result in a manner whereby: electricity is stolen damages/destroys an electric meter/ apparatus/equipment/wire/ cause
d) Uses electricity through a tampered meter
e) Uses electricity for purposes other than that which was authorized.

135 electricity act


Provisions of the Electricity Act 2003: As per sec 135 of the above Act

  1. Provisional assessment is made.
  2. Consumer is advised to pay the same.
  3. Consumer can pay the provisional assessment immediately under protest and can seek restoration of supply.
  4. Licensee on deposit/payment of the assessed amount restores the supply
    within 48hrs.
  5. The occupant/any person on his behalf remain present during the search.
  6. List of all things seized during the search should be prepared and issued to the
    occupant who shall sign the list.
  7. No search/inspection and seizure of any domestic place or premises should be
    conducted between sunset and sunrise except in the presence of an adult male member
    occupying such premises.
  8. The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973(2 of 1974) relating to search
    and seizure shall apply in this regard.

Punishments 135 electricity act

Procedure adopted after detection of Theft of Energy are

  • Supply will be disconnected immediately on detection of theft.
  • Provisional Assessment, Compounding Charges will be calculated by the authorized officer.
  • AEE/O&M-LTSCs & EE/O&M-HTSCs.
  • Consumer will be advised to pay the above charges.
  • If the consumer fails to pay the compounding Charges, criminal complaint will be lodged by territorial AEE/EE O&M with the Police department within 24 hrs from the time of detection of theft.
  • If the consumer pays the Provisional Assessment amount, the supply will be restored within 48 hrs.

Apart from the Enforcement wing, 12 inter disciplinary teams comprising of Officials from other Government departments have been formed as per G.O.No.96, Energy (B1) Department, Dt.05.10.2010 to detect theft of energy/misuse of energy.


These teams are headed by the territorial Electrical Inspectors and are monitored by the Chief
Electrical Inspector to Government.

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