International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 13 Issue: 01 | Jan 2026
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
An Intelligent Power Theft Detection and Load Profiling System Katragadda Harini 1, Tirumalasetty Jahnavi2, Gudeti Sudarshan Aravind Reddy3 , Rudrapankthi Naveen 4, Reddiboina Leela Krishna5 , Nanduri Tejaswini6 1,2,3,4,5,6BTech in ECE & VVIT,Andhra Pradesh,India`
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Abstract - Electricity theft remains one of the most critical challenges faced by modern power distribution systems, particularly in developing regions where monitoring infrastructure is limited. Practices such as illegal tapping, meter bypassing, and physical tampering of energy meters result in significant revenue losses for utility providers and adversely affect grid stability and power quality. Conventional electricity meters are primarily designed for billing purposes and do not possess real-time monitoring, analytical intelligence, or communication capabilities required for effective theft detection. This paper presents an ESP32-based intelligent power theft detection and load profiling system that continuously monitors voltage and current parameters to compute real-time power and energy consumption. The proposed system introduces load profiling through statistical analysis of historical consumption data, enabling the identification of abnormal usage patterns. In addition, tamper detection mechanisms are implemented to monitor electrical irregularities and physical disturbances in the metering system. Time-of-use analysis is incorporated to detect suspicious energy consumption during predefined off-peak or low-activity periods, which is a common indicator of unauthorized usage. Illegal tapping scenarios are experimentally simulated by introducing unregistered loads to evaluate the effectiveness of the detection methodology. The ESP32 microcontroller performs local data processing and anomaly detection while transmitting energy data and alerts to a cloud-based dashboard using integrated Wi-Fi communication. Experimental results demonstrate that the system can detect abnormal load variations, illegal tapping, and tampering events with low latency and acceptable accuracy. The proposed solution is cost-effective, scalable, and suitable for residential and small commercial applications, contributing to enhanced transparency, improved theft detection, and smarter energy management within modern power distribution networks. Key Words: Power Theft Detection, Load Profiling, ESP32, Smart Energy Meter, Tamper Detection, Time-of-Use Analysis, IoT, Energy Monitoring
1.INTRODUCTION Electric power distribution systems form the backbone of modern society, supporting residential, commercial, and industrial activities. With rapid urbanization and increasing dependence on electrical energy, the demand placed on power grids has grown significantly. Alongside this growth, electricity theft has emerged as a major concern for utility providers worldwide. Electricity theft not only causes substantial financial losses but also leads to increased transmission losses, voltage fluctuations, transformer overloading, and degradation of overall grid reliability. Electricity theft can take various forms, including illegal tapping of distribution lines, bypassing of energy meters, manipulation of metering circuitry, and unauthorized extension of loads. These activities often occur intermittently and are difficult to detect using conventional monitoring approaches. In many regions, theft detection relies on manual inspection and post-billing analysis, which are inefficient, time-consuming, and prone to human error. As a result, theft activities may continue undetected for extended periods. Traditional metering infrastructure lacks the capability to analyse consumption patterns or identify abnormal behaviour in real time. The absence of communication and intelligence at the meter level further limits the ability of utilities to respond quickly to suspicious activities. With the emergence of smart grid concepts, there is a growing need for intelligent, distributed monitoring systems that can operate at the consumer end and provide actionable insights to utility providers. Recent advancements in embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have enabled the development of smart energy meters capable of real-time data acquisition, processing, and communication. Embedded controllers with integrated wireless connectivity allow continuous monitoring of electrical parameters and remote visualization of energy usage. Load profiling, tamper detection, and time-of-use analysis are increasingly being recognized as effective techniques for identifying abnormal consumption behaviour and potential theft events.
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