ELECTRICAL MACHINES

POWER THEFT
IDENTIFICATION

PRESENTATION BY:ANU APARNA.S

ROLL NO:727722EUEE010
CLASS & SEC:EEE-A
INTRODUCTION
India is the largest Democracy in
the world and the world's fifth
largest economy in the world.India
spends over Rs 12 lakh crore on
importing energy.
India is aiming to bolster its economy with an
ambitious target, seeking a growth rate of
9-10% by enhancing its electricity provision.
WHAT IS POWER?
“Power” refers to the electrical
power that is transferred from
one coil (or winding) to another
within the transformer.
WHAT IS POWER THEFT?
Electricity theft or Power theft is
the criminal practice of stealing
electrical power.

It is the unauthorized or illegal

use of electrical power without
proper billing or approval from
the utility provider.
THEFT OCCURS WHEN:
1. An illegal consumer(not a registered
customer) steals directly from the distribution
lines or from another legal customer.

2. A legal customer(registered customer) steals

either bypassing the meter (connecting
around the meter to a live cable on the
company side of the meter) or tampering with
the meter to make it read less or no
consumption.

3. There is a collusion between the customer

and a company employee to reduce the
amount paid to the company (with lower side
payments to the employee in return).
WHY POWER THEFT
IS BAD?
 ECONOMIC IMPACT
 Power theft results in
significant financial losses
for utility companies. These
losses can ultimately lead to
increased electricity costs
for legitimate customers.

 In 2020-21, electricity theft

worth Rs 163.66 crore was
detected
 SAFETY HAZARDS
 Unauthorized electrical
connections, tampering
with meters, and bypassing
safety mechanisms can lead
to electrical fires,
electrocution, and other
safety hazards,
endangering lives and
property.
 HIGHER ENERGY
COSTS:
 To compensate for
revenue losses, utilities
may raise electricity
rates, passing the
burden of power theft
onto law-abiding
consumers.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
 Power theft can lead
to overuse of
electrical resources,
resulting in increased
energy production,
which may contribute
to environmental
issues such as
pollution and
resource depletion.
POWER THEFT METHODS
1. Meter Tampering
2. Direct Bypass Connections
3. Meter Hacking
4. Illegal Reconnections
5. Meter Misreading
6. Altered Wires and Cables
METER TAMPERING:
Physically altering or tampering
with the electric meter to slow
down or stop it from accurately
recording energy consumption
DIRECT BYPASS CONNECTIONS:
Making illegal connections
directly to the power lines
before they reach the meter,
bypassing the meter entirely.
 ILLEGAL RECONNECTIONS:
METER HACKING:
After a utility provider has
Individuals may hack into these
disconnected service due to non-
meters to manipulate their readings or
payment, some individuals may
alter software settings
reconnect the service without
authorization.
METER MISREADING:
Deliberate misreading or
misreporting of energy
consumption. Inaccurate readings
can result in lower bills.
ALTERED WIRES OR CABLES:
Tampering with wires and cables
inside the premises can result in a
partial or complete diversion of
electricity before it reaches the
meter.
HOW TO IDENTIFY
POWER THEFT?
And their solutions.
Identifying power theft can be a complex task, but utility
companies and law enforcement agencies employ various
methods and technologies to detect unauthorized
electricity consumption.
ADVANCED METERING
INFRASTRUCTURE
(AMI):
Implementing smart meters with
two-way communication
capabilities allows real-time
monitoring of energy
consumption. Smart meters can
detect anomalies and tampering
and enable remote disconnection
in cases of suspected theft.
GSM BASED POWER
THEFT
GSM(Global system for
Mobile Communication)-
based power theft detection
relies on sensors to monitor
electricity usage, detects
anomalies, and alerts
authorities via GSM
technology for real-time
intervention, helping utilities
combat revenue losses due
to theft.
Here's an overview of
how a GSM-based
power theft detection
system works:

1.Sensor Installation
2.Data Collection
3.Data Analysis
4.Alarm Generation
5.Communication with GSM Module
6.Notification
7.Remote Access and Control
8.Geolocation
9.Integration with Utility Billing
Systems Arduino and GSM based Prepaid Energy Meter with Theft Alert
10.Data Logging and Reporting
POWER THEFT
DETECTION USING
PLC:
Power theft detection using
Power Line Communication
(PLC) is an approach that
utilizes the existing electrical
power distribution network to
detect irregularities in power
consumption patterns,
potentially indicating
unauthorized consumption.
Here's an overview of how a PLC-based
power theft detection system works:

1.PLC Signal Injection

2.Signal Propagation
3.Data Collection
4.Signal Analysis
5.Pattern Recognition
6.Alarm Generation
7.Communication and Notification
8.Remote Access and Control
9.Geolocation
10.Integration with Billing Systems
NON TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS
❖ Financial rewards:
Utility companies encourage consumers to report
electricity theft.

❖ Periodic checks:
Electricity theft frequently takes place after service has
been disconnected. Some utility companies periodically
check disconnected meters if the customer has not
contacted them to reconnect service.

❖ Enforcement of law:
Fines should be imposed by the government for stealing
electricity.
CONCLUSION
Power theft is a critical issue that affects both utility
companies and society as a whole. As we've seen
throughout this presentation, it leads to financial
losses, overloading of the power grid, and
compromised safety.

By embracing modern technologies like GSM and

PLC-based systems, along with advanced sensors
and data analysis, utilities can take proactive
measures to combat power theft. These systems not
only help recover lost revenue but also improve the
overall reliability and safety of the electrical grid.
THANK
YOU