Power Theft Detection and Alert System

Authors: Abhishek Dodmani, Pravin Maurya, Nikhil Kshirsagar, Nilesh Thorat

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2026.79424

Abstract

Electricity theft is a major challenge faced by power distribution companies, leading to significant revenue losses and reduced grid reliability. This paper presents the design and implementation of an intelligent power theft detection and alert system using smart metering and real-time monitoring techniques. The proposed system continuously measures energy consumption at both the distribution transformer and consumer levels to identify discrepancies that indicate unauthorized usage. An embedded microcontroller-based architecture is employed to collect data from current and voltage sensors, which is then transmitted to a central server using wireless communication technologies such as GSM or IoT-based protocols. Advanced algorithms are implemented to analyze consumption patterns and detect anomalies associated with power theft. Upon detection, the system generates instant alerts to utility authorities via SMS or cloud-based notifications, enabling prompt action. The system is cost-effective, scalable, and capable of minimizing human intervention while improving monitoring accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model in identifying irregular consumption and reducing energy losses. This solution contributes to the development of smart grid infrastructure and enhances transparency and efficiency in power distribution systems.

Introduction

The study proposes an IoT-based smart transmission line fault detection and power theft monitoring system to improve the reliability and safety of electrical power transmission. As electricity demand continues to grow, transmission lines become more vulnerable to faults caused by natural events, equipment failures, illegal tapping, and environmental conditions. Existing systems in India lack real-time, multi-parameter fault monitoring, leading to delayed fault detection, equipment damage, power losses, and safety risks. To address these issues, the proposed system integrates sensors with an Arduino/ESP32 controller, ESP8266/GSM communication, relay module, LCD display, buzzer, and other components to continuously monitor transmission line conditions. When abnormal conditions such as faults, fire, overheating, or power theft are detected, the system automatically disconnects the power supply through a relay and sends instant alerts to power stations or authorized personnel. The literature review highlights previous GSM- and Arduino-based fault detection systems, while the proposed approach improves real-time monitoring and automation. Experimental results demonstrate that the system accurately detects faults and power theft, provides rapid alerts through SMS, LCD, buzzer, and LEDs, and ensures quick isolation of faulty sections. Overall, the proposed solution offers a low-cost, reliable, and efficient method for enhancing transmission line protection, reducing power losses, improving maintenance efficiency, and ensuring uninterrupted and secure electricity distribution.

Conclusion

The power theft detection and alert system provides an efficient and reliable solution to reduce electricity losses caused by unauthorized usage. By using sensors, Arduino Uno, and communication modules like GSM, the system ensures real-time monitoring and quick detection of faults or theft conditions. The integration of automatic relay control and alert mechanisms such as buzzer, LED, and LCD display enhances system responsiveness and user awareness. Overall, the system is cost-effective, easy to implement, and suitable for improving the security and efficiency of power distribution networks.

References

[1] S. S. Depuru, L. Wang, and V. Devabhaktuni, “Electricity theft: Overview, issues, prevention and a smart meter based approach,” IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, pp. 1–8, Jul. 2011. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6039488 [2] A. Jain and S. Kumar, “Power theft detection using smart metering and IoT,” International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT), vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 1–5, May 2018. https://www.ijert.org/power-theft-detection-using-smart-metering-and-iot [3] M. Faisal et al., “IoT-based electricity theft detection system,” International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering (IJARCCE), vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 45–49, Apr. 2019. https://ijarcce.com/upload/2019/april-19/IJARCCE%209.pdf [4] P. Ghosh and S. Maharana, “Electricity theft detection using machine learning,” IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Systems (PEDES), pp. 1–6, Dec. 2020. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9379592 [5] N. Saputra et al., “Smart grid and advanced metering infrastructure for electricity theft detection,” Procedia Computer Science, vol. 124, pp. 468–475, 2017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050917326267

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Abhishek Dodmani, Pravin Maurya, Nikhil Kshirsagar, Nilesh Thorat. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Download Paper

Paper Id : IJRASET79424

Publish Date : 2026-04-04

ISSN : 2321-9653

Publisher Name : IJRASET

DOI Link : Click Here