Electricity Theft Is Rampant, but Delhi Found a Fix

Filed by Dana Graviton

In a world where every watt is precious, the humble power grid bleeds out more than a tenth of its cargo — lost to heat, theft, and the quiet siphon of nonpayment. The World Bank's 2023 tally paints a grim picture: over half of tracked nations lose at least 10% of their electricity, and two countries hemorrhage more than half of everything they generate. But Delhi, a megacity once notorious for its pilfered power, has flipped the script. By reimagining the grid as a data-driven, self-aware network, the city has turned a chronic drain into a blueprint for tomorrow's energy infrastructure. The implications ripple far beyond one city — they hint at a future where energy systems are as intelligent and resilient as the societies they power.