Section 22 in The U.P. Electricity Supply (Consumers) Regulations, 1984
22. Discontinuance of supply in case of malpractice and pilferage of Electricity.
- (A) Malpractice : (i) If at any time, the energy supplied under one rate schedule is used for a purpose for which a higher tariff is applicable, the whole of the energy registered as consumed during the last six months from the date of detection, will be charged at the rate schedule as applicable for such use of energy. The imposition of this liability will not relieve the consumer from any penalty imposed by law for such misuse of energy besides the disconnection of supply.The difference of the amount billed under higher tariff and lower tariff shall not be taken into consideration for the purposes of computing consumers liability to pay monthly/annual minimum guarantee.(ii)If at any time the consumer is found adopting any appliance or using the energy supplied to him for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was supplied or dealing with it in any manner so as to unduly or improperly interfere with the efficient supply of energy to any other person by the supplier, the supplier may without prejudice' to its other rights under the agreement or under these regulations or under the provisions of the Electricity Act. disconnect the supply without any notice.(iii)If at any time the consumer is found exceeding the contracted load without specific permission of the supplier in case of connection up to 75 KW (100 BHP) the supplier may, without prejudice to its other rights under the agreement or under these regulations or under the provisions of the Electricity Act, estimate the value of the electrical energy, so abstracted, consumed or used as per guidelines given in Annexure-I and may also disconnect the supply without notice.(iv)If at any time the consumer is found using the energy to any service which is disconnected by the supplier including illegal restoration of the consumer's own disconnected service, the supplier may without prejudice to its other rights under the agreement or under these regulations or under the provisions of Electricity Act may charge the entire consumption of electrical energy, provided metered correctly, so abstracted, consumed or used at thrice the rate per unit of the rate schedule applicable to such consumption and may also disconnect the supply without notice.Similarly if at any time the consumer is found extending supply of electrical energy to other premises with the intent of sale of energy or otherwise, the supplier may without prejudice to his rights under the agreement or under these regulations or under the provisions of the Act may disconnect the supply without any notice till the consumer removes the extension to the satisfaction of the supplier and pays disconnection and reconnection charges as applicable from time to time.(B)Theft of Energy. - Where a fake or tampered meter body seal is detected or where there is evidence that consumer had dishonestly abstracted, consumed, used or wasted energy or otherwise established to the satisfaction of the supplier, that a consumer has in any manner abstracted, consumed or used electrical energy dishonestly, the supplier may estimate the value of the electrical energy so abstracted, consumed or used as per guidelines given in Annexure-I and may also disconnect the supply without notice. The imposition of this liability will not relieve the consumer from any penalty imposed by law for such misuse of energy besides the disconnection of supply.(C)The representative of the supplier who will get the supply so disconnected shall be an officer not below the rank of an Assistant Engineer who shall issue a letter to the consumer giving details of such malpractice, pilferage, dishonest abstraction or irregular use of energy detected.(D)The supply shall remain disconnected till such malpractice, pilferage or irregular use of energy is given up, the means thereof are removed or got regularised by obtaining sanction from competent authority and observing all other necessary formalities, as may be required to the entire satisfaction of the supplier and assessment bill alongwith all outstanding arrear together with disconnection and reconnection fee is deposited by the consumer. The bills of assessment shall be provided to the consumer at the earliest from the date of detecting such offence.
