Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Mumbai BEST Says It Recovered 84% of Power Theft Dues
BEST is the organisation that supplies electricity in Mumbai.
It says it checked thousands of cases involving stolen or unauthorised electricity use.
From 1993 through August 2026, it assessed Rs 261.71 crore in these cases.
BEST says it has collected Rs 220.05 crore so far.
That is about 84% of the amount assessed.
Rs 41.66 crore is still unpaid.
Some collections take longer because cases are in court or the people responsible are difficult to identify.
BEST says people caught stealing electricity must pay the full amount assessed and other required charges before getting their power reconnected.
BEST says it recovered Rs 220.05 crore, or 84.08%, of assessed power-theft and unauthorised-use dues from 1993 through August 2026.
The assessment covered 30,932 cases, with Rs 41.66 crore still outstanding.
Ward C had the highest reported recovery rate at 98.90%; Ward E had the lowest at 69.58%.
BEST cited pending court cases, lengthy recovery from public-sector bodies and difficulties verifying consumers in densely populated slum areas.
The undertaking said reconnection after power theft requires payment of the full assessed amount and applicable charges, along with other statutory requirements.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking.
- What
- BEST reported recovering Rs 220.05 crore, or 84.08%, of assessed dues in 30,932 power-theft and unauthorised electricity-use cases, with Rs 41.66 crore outstanding.
- When
- The reported period runs from 1993 through August 2026.
- Where
- Mumbai.
- Why
- BEST attributed outstanding dues to pending court cases, delays in recovering money from public-sector bodies and difficulties verifying consumers in densely populated slum areas.
- Amount assessed
- Rs 261.71 crore
- Amount recovered
- Rs 220.05 crore
- Recovery rate
- 84.08%
- Outstanding amount
- Rs 41.66 crore
- Cases covered
- 30,932
- Period covered
- 1993 through August 2026
- Highest ward recovery rate
- Ward C: 98.90%
- Lowest ward recovery rate
- Ward E: 69.58%