Studying electricity theft in Peshawar: An analysis of patterns, causes, and preventive measures

Abstract

Electricity has become a basic need for humans. Electricity theft is a major concern of the developing and underdeveloped nations. This study aims to study the patterns, causes & the preventive measures of electricity theft in Peshawar. Through convenience sampling, primary data was collected, using interview schedule, from the concerned officials of PESCO at 5 offices. The research was quantitative having sample size 50. Research findings reveal that the methods used for electricity theft include: meter tampering; shunt in meter; tilting the meter; cutting and connecting the neutral line to an outer conductor; Kunda or Hook System; shunt in the PVC cable; and connecting the neutral line to an outer conductor. Findings also indicates that the causes of electricity theft include rising expenses & high electricity tariffs. This study suggests these measures for the prevention of electricity theft: decreasing electricity’s cost & taxes; increasing the duration for surveillance & the role of police; shifting of meters to poles; increasing the staff; reducing billing irregularities & corrupt practices; replacing sluggish & old meters; installing AMR-Automatic Meter Reading meters; eliminating bill’s fuel price adjustment prices, staff’s corrupt practices, protection of electricity stealers by the powerful elite and politicians.