IoT based Energy theft detection and Pole to Pole theft location Identification

Power theft is that the most important problem in recent days which causes a lot of loss to electricity boards. In countries like Pakistan, these situations are more often, if we are ready to prevent these thefts we will save a lot of power. The electrical power theft detection system is used to det

2025-06-28 16:28:04 - Adil Khan

Project Title

IoT based Energy theft detection and Pole to Pole theft location Identification

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

Power theft is that the most important problem in recent days which causes a lot of loss to electricity boards. In countries like Pakistan, these situations are more often, if we are ready to prevent these thefts we will save a lot of power. The electrical power theft detection system is used to detect unauthorized tapping on distribution lines.

The existing system isn't ready to identify the precise location of tapping. The proposed Project will find the pole to pole location of the power theft.

Power theft can be defined as the usage of electrical power without any contract with the supplier. Technical losses happen naturally which cannot be quantified precisely. This illustrates the involvement of nontechnical parameters in the transmission and distribution of electricity
HISTORY
Energy theft started with unscrupulous persons tapping into Edison Electricity in New
York(27,march,1886).
TYPES OF THEFT
Following are the different types of energy theft

Direct Hooking from line

It is defined as the direct tapping from the line.
Bypassing the energy meter
In this type of energy theft, the input terminal and output terminal of the energy meter is short-circuited.
Injecting the foreign element in the energy meter
This type of energy theft consists of installing a circuit inside the meter so that the meter can be slowed down
at any time.
Physical obstruction
When a foreign material is placed inside the meter to obstruct the free movement of the disc is called physical
obstruction.
DETECTION METHODS
following are the energy theft detection methods
DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF POWER USING HVDS SYSTEM
In this method, High Rating Distribution Transformers are used to detect electrical energy theft.
ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE/SMART METERS

It is the transitioning to new technology and processes. In this method smart meters are used to detect
electrical enegy theft making a long-term financial commitment to the new metering technology and related
software. It involves paying additional fees for the new meter.
POWER THEFT CONTROL USING PLC SYSTEM
This method of electrical energy detection involves installation cost is very high as pole must be installed with
an energy meter

Power theft is that the most important problem in recent days which causes a lot of loss to electricity boards. In countries like Pakistan, these situations are more often, if we are ready to prevent these thefts we will save a lot of power. The electrical power theft detection system is used to detect unauthorized tapping on distribution lines.

The existing system isn't ready to identify the precise location of tapping. The proposed Project will find the pole to pole location of the power theft.

Power theft can be defined as the usage of electrical power without any contract with the supplier. Technical losses happen naturally which cannot be quantified precisely. This illustrates the involvement of nontechnical parameters in the transmission and distribution of electricity
HISTORY
Energy theft started with unscrupulous persons tapping into Edison Electricity in New
York(27,march,1886).
TYPES OF THEFT
Following are the different types of energy theft

Direct Hooking from line

It is defined as the direct tapping from the line.
Bypassing the energy meter
In this type of energy theft, the input terminal and output terminal of the energy meter is short-circuited.
Injecting the foreign element in the energy meter
This type of energy theft consists of installing a circuit inside the meter so that the meter can be slowed down
at any time.
Physical obstruction
When a foreign material is placed inside the meter to obstruct the free movement of the disc is called physical
obstruction.
DETECTION METHODS
following are the energy theft detection methods
DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF POWER USING HVDS SYSTEM
In this method, High Rating Distribution Transformers are used to detect electrical energy theft.
ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE/SMART METERS

It is the transitioning to new technology and processes. In this method smart meters are used to detect
electrical enegy theft making a long-term financial commitment to the new metering technology and related
software. It involves paying additional fees for the new meter.
POWER THEFT CONTROL USING PLC SYSTEM
This method of electrical energy detection involves installation cost is very high as pole must be installed with
an energy meter
It is the transitioning to new technology and processes. In this method smart meters are used to detect
electrical enegy theft making a long-term financial commitment to the new metering technology and related
software. It involves paying additional fees for the new meter.
POWER THEFT CONTROL USING PLC SYSTEM
This method of electrical energy detection involves installation cost is very high as pole must be installed with
an energy meterProject Objectives

The main oblective of the project is reduce power theft which will result in availability of energy. In this
project an energy thieft module will be designed consisting of different electrical components such as Arduino

NO, GSM module, current transformer etc. which will be smart enough to detect energy theft. It will have
positive impacts on the economy of a country as power utilities are losing billions of rupees in this account.
As a further implementation to the developed model we can assemble GPS module in order to identify exact
location power theft thereby identifying power theft at an ease. We can detect the theft of power more
precisely.
The use of current sensors can give us the exact value of the power being theft at any moment.


The power distribution sector has been played with distribution losses (overall 30%) coupled with theft of electricity. To minimize the theft of power by bypassing or by hooking we are proposing a web based MOBILE APPLICATION which will notify about the theft of electricity that is happening in a particular area. The main objectives of this work are:

To detect the power theft automatically without engaging any man powers by developing a cost effective and efficient system.

To find Pole to Pole location of the energy theft.

To develop a web based mobile app for the authorized officials of electricity board to keep track of all the thefts, area of thefts and the direction to reach the area under theft.

To maintain the record of the total number of electric units consumed by users in the server database periodically and make online bill payment system.

To develop a global website that would maintain the analytics of the thefts and the probable area under theft using multi-color graphs and pictorial representations which would make the theft analysis easier and can also predict the thefts that may happen in future.

The main oblective of the project is reduce power theft which will result in availability of energy. In this
project an energy thieft module will be designed consisting of different electrical components such as Arduino

NO, GSM module, current transformer etc. which will be smart enough to detect energy theft. It will have
positive impacts on the economy of a country as power utilities are losing billions of rupees in this account.
As a further implementation to the developed model we can assemble GPS module in order to identify exact
location power theft thereby identifying power theft at an ease. We can detect the theft of power more
precisely.
The use of current sensors can give us the exact value of the power being theft at any moment.

Project Implementation Method

Proposed Methodology 

To create this solution, work has to be done both for the hardware and software.

The hardware includes the customized electric meter and the distributor box and the software includes the development of both website and mobile application.

For the hardware part to be developed first, study of basics components like digital electric meter, GSM module, ACS712 module, microcontroller, ADC and their workings has to be carried out.

The circuit consists of Arduino, GSM, LCD, ESP module and Current transformers.
Meters cannot be used for high currents so current sensing is done by current transformers.
The main component in this circuit is Arduino controller . It receives current signal from two current
transformers by the means of bridge rectifier. Then it compares those two current magnitudes by the
conditional operator.
Resistor is used because the secondary of current transformer should never be open circuited.

'IoT based Energy theft detection and Pole to Pole theft location Identification' _1659395984.png

The circuit consists of Arduino, GSM, LCD, ESP module and Current transformers.
Meters cannot be used for high currents so current sensing is done by current transformers.
The main component in this circuit is Arduino controller . It receives current signal from two current
transformers by the means of bridge rectifier. Then it compares those two current magnitudes by the
conditional operator.
Resistor is used because the secondary of current transformer should never be open circuited.

'IoT based Energy theft detection and Pole to Pole theft location Identification' _1659395984.png

Benefits of the Project
ADVANTAGES
I. Security is automated.
II. Economy of country is saved.
III. Alert can be generated through GSM even in the case of failure of internet.
IV. Does not affect the power transfer capability of line.
APPLICATIONS
I. Used in distribution system.
II. Can be used in AMR
FUTURE SCOPE
As a further implementation to the developed model we can assemble GPS module in order to identify exact
location power theft thereby identifying power theft at an ease.
ADVANTAGES
I. Security is automated.
II. Economy of country is saved.
III. Alert can be generated through GSM even in the case of failure of internet.
IV. Does not affect the power transfer capability of line.APPLICATIONS
I. Used in distribution system.
II. Can be used in AMR
FUTURE SCOPE
As a further implementation to the developed model we can assemble GPS module in order to identify exact
location power theft thereby identifying power theft at an ease.Technical Details of Final Deliverable
COMPONENTS USED:
I. Arduino UNO
II. ESP8266
III. GSM module
IV. Liquid crystal display
V. Current transformer
VI. Bridge rectifier
VII. Voltage Regulator (LM1117)
VIII. Resistor
IX. Capacitor

Block Diagram

'IoT based Energy theft detection and Pole to Pole theft location Identification' _1659395986.png

COMPONENTS USED:
I. Arduino UNO
II. ESP8266
III. GSM module
IV. Liquid crystal display
V. Current transformer
VI. Bridge rectifier
VII. Voltage Regulator (LM1117)
VIII. Resistor
IX. CapacitorFinal Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry Energy Other Industries Finance Core Technology Internet of Things (IoT)Other TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and ProductionRequired Resources
It is the transitioning to new technology and processes. In this method smart meters are used to detect
electrical enegy theft making a long-term financial commitment to the new metering technology and related
software. It involves paying additional fees for the new meter.
POWER THEFT CONTROL USING PLC SYSTEM
This method of electrical energy detection involves installation cost is very high as pole must be installed with
an energy meter

More Posts