BSES starts WhatsApp for consumers to report power thefts

New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) In a first by a Delhi power distribution company (discom), the national capital's privately-run utility BSES said on Tuesday it has adopted the messaging application WhatsApp in its attempt to check power thefts.

"BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) have launched an innovative service, wherein consumers can shoot videos and click photographs of power theft and WhatsApp them (along with the location address) to centralised numbers," the company said in a statement here.

"Identity of the people reporting power theft will be kept confidential," it said, adding that consumers can send the power theft videos to the WhatsApp number 9555010022 for BRPL and 8588892156 for BYPL.

"The service has been primarily targeted at high power theft areas. The initial response has been encouraging," BSES said.

"To promote the service, BSES will soon start engaging with RWAs (residents welfare associations) and residents," it added.

BSES said last month that discoms have been able to drastically cut transmission losses by coming down heavily on the menace of power theft.

Special courts, in three separate judgements, have penalised and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment Delhi residents for indulging in power theft, an official said.

"Power theft is a social menace, which impacts the honest consumers. Since 2002, BSES discoms have managed to reduce AT&C losses from over 55 per cent to under 15 per cent by coming down heavily on power thefts," the statement added.