Adani Electricity's Fight Against Power Theft Yields Results In FY25

Adani Electricity's fight against power theft has yielded results in fiscal year 2024-25, with the aggregate technical and commercial, or AT&C losses, reducing by 0.77%.

During the financial year, the company registered 1,166 first information reports (FIRs) against perpetrators of power theft, which marked a substantial increase as compared to 974 FIRs in FY24, according to a release.

This action resulted in AT&C losses slipping to 4.70% in FY25 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.

During FY25, Adani Electricity conducted 37,424 mass raids, marking a 41% increase compared to 26,628 mass raids in FY24.

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 the raids, 60.9 tonnes of illegal wires were recovered. A total theft of 23.76 million units, amounting to Rs 44.92 crore was assessed.

Adani Electricity's vigilance team uncovered four major power theft cases in FY25:

April 2024: Adani Electricity's Vigilance team discovered a construction company in Mumbai's 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 Mumbai's Andheri using an unauthorised electricity connection. This resulted in power theft valued at Rs 51.09 lakhs. An FIR was lodged against the customer at Kherwadi Police Station in 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.

Notably, 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.

Adani Electricity actively collaborates with police authorities to conduct regular mass raids, apprehend offenders, and confiscate equipment used for power theft. During FY25, a significant amount (60.9 tonnes) of unauthorised wires and other equipment were seized.

Power theft 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. "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."

Disclaimer: NDTV Profit is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.