Understanding Electricity Theft: Causes, Consequences, and AI-Based Detection

Electricity theft, often overlooked in both public and technical matters, poses a significant economic and social challenge for utilities.Briefly, Electricity theft involves illicitly consuming electric power through various means, from bypassing meters, tampering with meters, to unpaid bills.Beyond technical and safety matters, it is often correlated with poverty, weak infrastructure, and utility/government inefficiencies.The consequences of it extend beyond financial losses, and it contributes to power outages, imbalances in systems, and higher costs for honest consumers.This review covers the scope and impact of electricity theft in America compared to other countries, examining current prevention strategies and emerging solutions.A general review of the role of AI and machine learning is done, which shows promising potential in detecting and mitigating electricity theft through advanced technological approaches.