THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BALASORE,
JANUARY 20, 2026
TP Northern Odisha Distribution
Limited (TPNODL), a joint venture of Tata Power and the Odisha Government, has
significantly intensified its campaign against electricity theft, reinforcing
its commitment to providing reliable, safe and quality power supply to
consumers across Northern Odisha. Reiterating its zero-tolerance policy, the
utility has taken firm and sustained enforcement measures to curb unauthorized
power usage that continues to pose a serious challenge despite multiple
consumer-centric initiatives.
Through focused and coordinated
actions, TPNODL has successfully curbed nearly 500 MW of electricity theft so
far, marking a major milestone in its anti-theft drive. The effectiveness of
these efforts is evident from the data for 2025 alone, during which 132 MW of
unauthorized usage was prevented. Among all operational regions, the Balasore
Electrical Circle emerged as the frontrunner, preventing 54.40 MW of power
theft with 9,418 cases registered. Other circles also reported strong outcomes,
including 20 MW in Baripada, 24 MW in Bhadrak, 21 MW in Jajpur and 13 MW in
Keonjhar. In total, more than 29,000 cases have been booked against offenders
across these areas.
TPNODL’s consistent progress
over the years underscores the robustness of its strategy. The utility
prevented 73.23 MW of electricity theft in FY 2021-22, followed by 101.12 MW in
FY 2022-23, and a combined nearly 200 MW during FY 2023-24 and 2024-25. This
sustained momentum reflects a strong institutional resolve to address the issue
at its root.
To further strengthen
enforcement, TPNODL has established a comprehensive monitoring mechanism
extending from Section Offices to Electrical Circle Offices. Dedicated central
enforcement teams, including women officers, are conducting intensive
inspections with active support from the District Administration and Police.
The company continues to take strict action against offenders to safeguard the
integrity, reliability and safety of the power distribution network.
Highlighting the broader
impact, TPNODL emphasized that electricity theft not only leads to revenue loss
but also adversely affects honest consumers by causing frequent outages,
voltage fluctuations and increased tariff pressure. Consumers have been
reminded that electricity theft is a punishable offence and are encouraged to
regularize their connected load as per actual requirements. Encouraging public
participation, the utility has urged citizens to report instances of power
theft by calling 94389-06002. With the onset of the summer season, these
preventive measures are increasingly being recognized by the public and
intellectuals as essential steps to ensure uninterrupted and dependable power
supply across Northern Odisha.
