In Dehradun, a major power theft issue has come to light, with around 5,000 registered e-rickshaws illegally charging through domestic electricity connections instead of using commercial power as mandated. This rampant practice is not only draining the state’s revenue but also overloading the power supply infrastructure, especially during the high-demand summer season.
According to the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), a single e-rickshaw consumes an average of nine units of electricity per charge. When this power is drawn from household connections, it bypasses commercial billing, resulting in a significant loss of fixed and variable charges to the energy department. Estimates indicate that this malpractice is costing the state nearly ₹1 crore annually.
The unauthorized use of domestic connections for commercial vehicle charging is in violation of the Electricity Act, 2003. Under this, electric vehicle charging must be done through designated commercial connections or authorized charging stations. However, e-rickshaw operators are reportedly avoiding these facilities due to the higher unit costs—₹15 per unit at public charging stations compared to approximately ₹7.15 per unit under domestic billing.
Despite decent earnings—drivers reportedly earn ₹1,200 to ₹1,500 daily after paying ₹500 rent to the owner—many are unwilling to pay the extra amount for legal charging, opting instead for household sockets to save around 60 paise per unit.
Currently, Dehradun has four functioning electric vehicle (EV) charging stations located at Gandhi Park, Astley Hall Tiraha, Rajpur, and Saharanpur Road (Majra). A total of 12 stations are planned. However, due to the cost and convenience factors, these stations remain underutilized.
Power officials warn that drawing high electricity loads from low-capacity domestic connections is causing frequent faults and transformer failures across residential areas. “Most households have 1-2 kilowatt sanctioned loads. Charging an e-rickshaw exceeds this limit, leading to tripping and voltage issues,” said Rahul Jain, Superintendent Engineer (Urban), UPCL. He added that domestic connections found to be used for EV charging are being converted to commercial, and consumers are being alerted via SMS to upgrade their load capacities accordingly.
On the administrative front, RTO (Administration) Sandeep Saini confirmed that joint inspection drives with UPCL will be carried out soon to crack down on this practice. “It is mandatory for e-rickshaw operators to take commercial power connections. Charging with domestic electricity is illegal and actionable,” he said.
Additionally, despite a formal restriction on e-rickshaw movement on main roads by Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, the vehicles continue to ply on major city arteries such as Saharanpur Road, Haridwar Road, EC Road, and near Railway Station and Clock Tower, adding to traffic chaos and public inconvenience.
The unregulated growth of e-rickshaws and the absence of driver training have further disrupted urban traffic flow. At major intersections and marketplaces, these vehicles often park haphazardly, leading to congestion. Authorities also point out that not all operating e-rickshaws are properly registered, adding another layer of non-compliance.
With unchecked power theft, traffic violations, and inadequate infrastructure utilization, Dehradun’s e-rickshaw ecosystem highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement and public awareness to ensure a sustainable transition to electric mobility.
