Power Infrastructure: 10-year jail for damage

The cabinet yesterday approved the draft for a new law that has stern punishment for electricity and equipment theft, sabotage and vandalism, and a provision for an independent system operator to manage electricity load.

The approval of the draft was made at the weekly meeting held at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters afterwards, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the Power Law, 2016, would replace the Electricity Act, 1910, once passed by parliament.

He said use of electricity by any person or organisation without permission of the government would be considered power theft.

The punishment for power theft by an individual would be jail sentence of up to three years or a fine double the price of the electricity stolen or Tk 50,000 (whichever is highest).

For industries, the punishment is maximum five years' jail or a fine double the price of stolen electricity or Tk 5 lakh (whichever is highest).

He said for destroying or damaging establishments, like power station, sub-station, power lines, poles and equipment, or indulging in sabotage, one could be sentenced to minimum seven and maximum 10 years in prison or fined between Tk 10,000 and Tk 10 crore or both.

A person might be punished with up to one year jail sentence or Tk 5 lakh fine or both for intentionally wasting electricity.

According to the draft law, for stealing equipment related to power supply, one could be sentenced to minimum one and maximum five years in jail and fined between Tk 50,000 and Tk 5 lakh.

Possession of stolen equipment knowingly could result in a sentence of up to two years in jail or Tk 50,000 fine or both, the cabinet secretary said.

Any power employee violating the law, like providing illegal connections even if it was outside the employee's jurisdiction, or doing faulty work, could face up to one year in jail or Tk one lakh fine or both.

Power employees guilty of similar offences that have not been mentioned in the draft law could face up to six months' imprisonment or Tk 10,000 fine or both, the cabinet secretary said.

The draft law proposed introduction of independent system operator (ISO) to run the country's power system in a coordinated manner as well as ensure better load management, he added.

The cabinet secretary said once passed, the new law would prevent the PDB, Desco and Desa from providing new power connection or doing any public work in their jurisdictions without notifying higher authorities.