BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 9th January 2026: Illegal use of electricity through hook lines and meter tampering has emerged as a serious threat to public safety while causing substantial financial losses to the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), officials said.
Despite TSECL’s efforts to promote green energy, strengthen grid safety, and modernise the power system, the continued practice of electricity theft is pushing the system towards severe risk. Corporation data indicate that drawing power through hook lines frequently results in fatal accidents. Open and loosely laid wires, unsafe connections, and use of electricity during rain create highly dangerous conditions. Several cases of electrocution have been reported in the past while attempting to install or remove illegal connections, making electricity theft not just a legal offence but a life-threatening act.
TSECL is also facing significant revenue losses due to such thefts. Rising system losses, added stress on the grid, and damage to infrastructure ultimately affect law-abiding consumers, who bear the indirect cost of illegal usage.
To curb the menace, the corporation has intensified awareness campaigns alongside strict enforcement. From April to December 2025, TSECL’s vigilance wing disconnected 6,547 illegal hook lines. During the same period, 11,401 meters were inspected, with irregularities detected in 1,357 cases. Fines amounting to ₹2.92 crore were imposed, of which ₹2.50 crore has already been recovered. An additional ₹16.09 lakh was collected as outstanding dues.
The drive has continued in 2026. Between January 1 and January 8, 144 hook lines were disconnected, 233 meters inspected, and 12 cases of theft detected. Fines of ₹7.55 lakh were imposed, with ₹7.20 lakh recovered.
On January 8, a special operation in South Ramnagar and Joypur areas of Agartala led to the disconnection of 14 hook lines. Several electrical appliances linked to illegal connections were seized, and fines of ₹85,000 were collected.
TSECL has urged consumers to use electricity through legal means and appealed to citizens to report illegal connections, stressing that electricity theft endangers lives and wastes public resources.
