Theft of electricity is the criminal practice of stealing electrical power. It is very common in Kashmir.
It is generally called "Cable Hooking" and is the most used method. About 80percent of global power theft is by direct tapping from the line.
The consumer taps into a power line from a point ahead of the energy meter and thus this energy consumption is unmeasured.
In this method, the input terminal and output terminal of the energy meter is short-circuited, preventing the energy from registration in the energy meter.
According to JKSPDC, the estimated hydro power potential of the state is 20,000 Megawatts (MW), of which only 3263.46 MW that is approximately 19.80 percent have been exploited so far. So the maximum electricity we get is from hydropower plants.
Since the power output from any hydropower plant is mainly a function of discharge (quantity of water), but in Jammu and Kashmir the rivers are mainly snow fed and the water capacity decreases in winter.
Mainly the peak demand occurs in the months of summer, but in Kashmir the peak load demand occurs in the winter months (because of heating purposes). So, the total load is compensated mainly by thermal power plants.
Now when such kind of stealing occurs the load demand touches the sky which emphasis load on thermal power plants, generally we consume less than 5KW per day (per house hold with normal load), because of tariff issues.
On stealing, the bandit consumes more than the normal consumption, as a great saying "muftuksharabchuchamutkazew". This stealing of electric power is due to unawareness and we are connecting this theft with the shortage of power, which is totally savage.
(I) Stealing and utilising electricity unlawfully (one of the Hudud crime).
(II)Degradation of earth: This may be surprising, how stealing of electricity degrades environment. If an analysis is done per kw of electricity emits 0.7 kg of carbon dioxide (fossil fuel fired power plants). As I quote the peak demand in winter is mainly compensated by thermal power plants.
On stealing, bandit utilises power more than 7 KW per day (as it tariff free), which can lead to dramatic changes (as emission of carbon dioxide is a function of units generated), means if a bandit consumes some units (KW) extra, it increase's load of generating station to generate extra units, which in turn increases the carbon dioxide emission (more power generation means more input required, more input required means more emission of greenhouse gases, and hence more degradation occurs) and blame is for the person who thefts the electricity.
According to Law it is an offense and action is taking Under Part XII Section 86 (1-6) (Jammu and Kashmir electricity Act 2010).
"…most of the damage we cause to the planet is the result of our own ignorance,"YvonChouinard.