Electricity Theft Reporting: How to Earn a Reward for Anonymous Tips (2026 Guide)

Is your neighbor running three ACs directly hooked to the main power line while you bear the burden of inflated tariffs? Electricity theft causes thousands of crores in losses across India every year. High Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses force utility companies to hike tariff rates for honest, paying consumers.

But now, you can stop this theft and earn lakhs of rupees in rewards. In 2026, State Power Corporations (like UPPCL) have completely digitized and anonymized their 'Informer Reward Scheme' (Whistleblower Policy). The best part? The identity of the informer is kept 100% secret. Even the local electricity officials will never know your name.

In this mega guide, we will break down the exact process of reporting power theft anonymously, how the 10% reward is calculated, and the timeline for the money to reach your bank account.

1. The 10% Whistleblower Reward Scheme

To curb power theft, utility companies offer a highly lucrative incentive for vigilant citizens.

The Math: The informer is rewarded exactly 10% of the assessed penalty amount that is successfully recovered from the thief.

This means catching a large factory stealing power can earn you a massive, tax-free reward straight to your bank account.

2. How to Report Anonymously (Bijli Mitra & 1912)

People often fear retaliation from the power thieves. To counter this, the reporting infrastructure has been made strictly anonymous.

A. UPPCL's 'Bijli Mitra' Portal

For consumers in Uttar Pradesh, UPPCL has launched the bijlimitra.uppcl.org portal.

• You can log a complaint without entering your name, mobile number, or email.
• If you wish to claim the reward, you provide an encrypted bank account detail and a secret tracking code, which is handled centrally by the IT system, bypassing local officials entirely.

B. The 1912 Toll-Free Helpline

You can call 1912 from anywhere in India. Tell the operator, "I want to report electricity theft to the Vigilance Department." They will route your call to the specialized Anti-Power Theft Squad.

3. What Evidence Do You Need to Provide?

Vigilance teams won't dispatch a raiding party based on a vague rumor. Make your complaint actionable by providing:

4. The Payout Process: How You Get Paid

The reward is not distributed the very next day. It follows a strict legal and accounting protocol:

1. The Raid: Based on your tip, the Vigilance Police conducts a surprise raid.
2. Assessment: The team calculates the connected load (kW) and creates a provisional assessment (Penalty Bill).
3. FIR Registration: An FIR is lodged at the Anti-Power Theft Police Station under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
4. Recovery of Funds: The thief must deposit the compounding fee/penalty to avoid prolonged jail time.
5. Reward Transfer: Once the utility company officially receives the recovered penalty, 10% is processed and transferred (NEFT/RTGS) to the informer's bank account within 30-60 days.

5. Legal Punishments for Power Theft (Section 135)

Power theft is no longer a petty crime you can bribe your way out of.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Will my local lineman find out that I reported the theft?
Absolutely not. Portals like Bijli Mitra are monitored directly by the Vigilance Headquarters at the state capital. Local Junior Engineers (JEs) or linemen are only given orders to assist the raiding party; they do not have access to the informer's data.

Q2. Will I get the reward if the thief refuses to pay the penalty?
No. Government policy mandates that the reward is a percentage of the "realized" amount. If the revenue isn't recovered, the payout cannot be sanctioned. However, since an FIR is filed, the accused is legally forced to pay eventually.

Q3. Can I report someone who has bypassed a Smart Meter?
Yes. Tampering with smart meters (e.g., bypassing the neutral, breaking the optical seal, or using remote jammers) falls strictly under Section 135 as theft.