The government is rightly concerned about revenue loss due to electricity pilferage. However, it is unfortunate that domestic consumers are often unfairly portrayed as the main culprits. Immediate disconnection warnings are issued even for minor or one-month overdue bills. In contrast, industrial units and certain government establishments — the real defaulters — continue to siphon off power with impunity, often with the active connivance of authorities. A look at the list of outstanding dues would clearly expose the habitual defaulters, including industries, legislators, and state-run bodies, who routinely ignore such disconnection threats without consequence. Electric meters were first replaced by digital meters and now again by electronic meters. Why should innocent domestic consumers bear the financial burden of these repeated changes, especially when the fault does not lie with them? It is widely suspected that such shifts are not solely about curbing power theft but are influenced by vested interests and commission-driven motives. It's high time that ordinary consumers refuse to be scapegoats for systemic failures. They must raise their voices in protest and demand accountability and fairness in electricity reforms.
