New Delhi, March 15, 2007

Press Release

BSES vows to erase Delhi’s “Power theft Capital’ Image

….Makes it easier than ever before to report power theft

· On the suggestion of honest consumers, two exclusive email ids to report power theft launched

· Honest customers and other stakeholders join BSES’ mission to eradicate power theft

· City Court charge sheets a former MLA for preventing an erstwhile DVB Enforcement team for carrying out raids

· Since July 2002, BSES has booked over 50,000 cases of power theft and over 3.17 lakh KW of electricity theft load and levied penalties of over Rs 700 crore

· Since January 2005, over 125 power thieves have been sent to Jail

Power theft is a big slur on the face of Delhi – otherwise on its way to becoming a world class modern city. Power theft knows no boundaries – it cuts across segments and classes. After adopting a 360 degrees approach and a Zero Tolerance policy towards power theft, BSES is now determined to erase Delhi’s reputation and image as the World’s power theft Capital. This decision has been taken following a dialogue and interaction with thousands of honest customers - BSES’ Bhagidari partners and other stakeholders who are equally determined to get Delhi rid of this dubious image.

Increasing support from honest customers in the form of tips offs on power theft cases is as much a contributing factor in controlling power theft as is deployment of modern technologies like DT Metering, Geographical Information System (GIS) etc. To make the process of reporting power theft, easier than ever before, BSES has launched two exclusive email id’s for its honest customers.

theft.bypl@bsesdelhi.com (for BYPL customers)

theft.brpl@bsesdelhi.com (for BRPL customers)

“These email ids are in addition to the two dedicated and exclusive numbers - 39999888 (BYPL) and 39999777 (BRPL) for reporting power theft. As always, identity of customers will be kept confidential” said a BSES spokesperson and added “We hope that with the introduction of the two email ids on the suggestion of honest consumers, many more will come forward and help remove the stigma of “power theft capital” associated with Delhi”

Even after a record reduction by Delhi discoms (20% by BYPL and 16.4% by BRPL), Delhi’s AT & C losses at 35% - remain one of the highest in the country – even more than neighboring towns of Noida and Faridabad.

State	AT& C Losses (%)	State	AT & C Losses (%)
Delhi	35	Mumbai	14
Kolkata	16	Bangalore	12
Noida	12	Faridabad	26

BSES’ efforts to control power theft have also been increasingly receiving support from the long arm of the law. Even the Big Fish are increasingly getting booked and punished for indulging in / abetting power theft. Recently, a local Delhi Court framed charges against a former MLA for allegedly threatening an erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) enforcement team from carrying out raids in his constituency eight years ago to detect power thefts.

“Since January 2005, BSES has filed over 3200 cases in the Special Courts of Electricity. So far the Courts have sentenced over 125 power thieves to jail in BSES area – giving them Jail terms amounting to a total of over 1200 man days in prison” said a BSES official.

According to a BSES spokesperson “The success of these measures can be gauged by the fact that since July 2002, BSES has booked over 50,000 cases of power theft, booked an electricity theft load of around 3.17 lakh KW and levied penalties of over Rs 700 crores”

BSES, Delhi’s premier power distribution company, is committed to ensuring quality and reliable electricity supply to all its consumers.

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For further information please contact:

Prashant Dua	Chandra P Kamat
Corporate Communications	Corporate Communications
39999870 / 9312007822	39999088/9350130304