KMC joins hands with CESC in bid to check power theft

Kolkata: In a major stride to prevent power theft, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is installing new technology in coordination with the CESC. This technology will be implemented in a planned manner in all the markets under the KMC, where there have been numerous complaints of power pilferage by illegal hooking. The detailed plan on how to go about this venture has already been prepared by the Lighting & Electricity department of the KMC.

It is impossible to track those people who indulge in power theft through hooking or other means. However, to curb such practice, we are using timers in our lights and at the same time connecting the main switches with Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB),” said a senior official of the KMC’s lighting department. The timer will ensure that electricity could not be used beyond a specified time, while the NCB technology will result in tripping of power as soon as there is any overload in the line connected with the

laborating on the technology, the official said if MCB is connected with a main switch that can light up 5 lamps with a capacity of 100W each in a specified area, the power will trip if somebody tries to draw power by hooking, “The technology is being integrated in a way that this power tripping can be monitored by us centrally,” the official added. The expenditure for putting the technology in place will vary depending upon the length of wiring and the coverage area. “We will gradually extend this technology to control theft in the lights of the KMC on all the roads across the city. Work has already started,” said Manzar Iqbal, Member Mayor in Council (Lighting & Electricity). The KMC is also working upon replacing all high pressure sodium vapor lamp fittings (HPSV) and Metal Halide Fittings with LED lights to bring down the level of carbon emission and at the same time reduce consumption of electricity.[Millenium post]