₹10 Trick Reduces Electricity Bills by 75% in Haryana

The Haryana power distribution company has uncovered a massive electricity meter tampering network operating in Hisar district. This illegal operation is causing millions in losses to the electricity corporation. In Hisar alone, inspection revealed that 1,381 out of 3,822 meters checked were tampered with – meaning every third meter in the area has been manipulated.

Consumers are modifying their electricity meters to drastically reduce their bills. The market-available component – a simple resistor costing just ₹10 – allows homeowners to reduce their electricity bills by as much as 75%. 

How the Tampering Works

The tampering method is surprisingly simple. For a household with a typical electricity load of 2-3 kilowatts, the monthly bill should normally range between ₹3,000-4,000. However, by installing the ₹10 resistor, consumers can bring that bill down to just ₹400-500. 

This resistor, easily available in any electronics market in Hisar, works by reducing the current flow measured by the meter. When installed, it significantly slows down the meter reading speed, resulting in dramatically lower recorded electricity consumption. 

How the Scam Was Discovered 

The electricity department became suspicious when they noticed that many consumers' bills were decreasing by 4-5 times during summer – precisely when electricity usage typically increases due to air conditioning and cooling appliances.

Following this unusual pattern, the power distribution company prepared a list of suspicious consumers and removed approximately 3,822 meters for laboratory testing. The results were shocking – nearly one-third of all tested meters showed evidence of tampering. 

Penalties for Meter Tampering

According to the electricity department, consumers caught tampering with meters face stiff penalties. When tampering is confirmed, the department imposes a penalty equivalent to one year's estimated consumption.

For example, if a household's genuine monthly bill should be ₹2,000-3,000, the penalty would amount to ₹20,000-30,000. The electricity department finds more than 100 tampered meters each month in Hisar alone.

A dedicated laboratory has been established behind the Vidyut Sadan (Electricity House) in Hisar, where a team of experts led by a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) examines suspicious meters. 

Official Statement 

SDO Dinesh Kumar of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) stated that out of the 3,822 meters identified for checking, 1,381 showed clear signs of tampering and were seized by the electricity department team. The remaining 2,205 meters were found to be functioning correctly.

Kumar explained that the tampering network operates by removing original components from the meter and replacing them with counterfeit parts that control the reading. This causes the meter to show reduced electricity consumption, resulting in significantly lower bills.