A MINOR PROJECT REPORT

on

ELECTRICITY THEFT IDENTIFICATION ON TRANSIMISSION LINES

Submitted for partial fulfilment of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
in

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

for

PRACTICAL COURSE 21EEC305P - MICROCONTROLLER

by

THARUNKANTH MS (RA2211005010008)
KAVYA N (RA2211005010039)
VAITHEESWARI R (RA2211005010047)

Under the guidance of

Dr. Suchitra D
(Professor, Department of EEE)

Dr. Anitha D
(Assistant Professor, Department of EEE)

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

SRM NAGAR, KATTANKULATHUR – 603203

CHENGALPATTU DISTRICT
MAY 2025
 2

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report titled “ELECTRICITY THEFT IDENTIFICATION

ON TRANSIMISSIOLINES” is the bonafide work of Tharunkanth MS
(RA2211005010008), Kavya N (RA2211005010039),Vaitheeswari R (RA2211005010047)
who carried out the project work under my supervision. Certified further, that to the best of my
knowledge the work reported herein does not form part of any other project report or dissertation
on the basis of which a degree or award was conferred on an earlier occasion on this or any other
candidate.

Signature of the Faculty Incharge

Dr. Suchitra D
(Professor, Department Of EEE)
Dr. Anitha D
(Assistant Professor, Department of EEE)
SRM IST

Internal Examiner

Date:
 3

ACKNOWLEDEMENT

First and foremost, we wish to express our sincere gratitude and grateful acknowledgement
to the Management of SRM INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, for providing
us the opportunity to do this project. We express our heartfelt and sincere thanks to respected
[Link], Vice Chancellor and Prof. M. Leenus J Martin, Dean (CET), for
their encouragement towards the growth of research work and providing vital resources in the
university.

We take this opportunity to express sincere thanks and deep sense of gratitude to beloved
Dr. Sridhar R, Professor and Head of the Department for his encouragement towards the
completion of the project.

We would like to thank our minor project in-charge Dr. Suchitra D and Dr. Anitha D
for their support, knowledge, and valuable input throughout our project. We are deeply grateful
for the help, valuable guidance, suggestions and support.

Tharunkanth MS

Kavya N

Vaitheeswari R
 4

ABSTRACT

Science and technology with all its miraculous advancements has fascinated human life
to a great extent that imagining a world without these innovations is hardly possible. While
technology is on the raising slope, we should also note the increasing immoral activities. With
a technical view, "Power Theft" is a non-ignorable crime that is highly prevalent, and at the
same time it directly affects the economy of a nation.

This project is designed to find out such power theft in the normal distribution lines.
This project is using the principle of the differential protection scheme for the identification of
the power theft. The differential protection scheme consists of two CTs (current transformers)
connected at both the terminals of the load. If there is no fault in the load then the secondary
currents of both the CTs will be same. Using the same principle one CT is connected at the
starting end of the distributor and the remaining other CT is connected to the different loads
which are legal. If there is no power theft in the line then the vector sum of all the CT's which
are connected to the load will be equal to the current in the main CT. if there is a difference
then we can make out that it should either be the power theft or a fault in the line.
 5

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER NO TITLE PAGE NO

ABSTRACT 4
LIST OF TABLES 7
LIST OF FIGURES 8
1 INTRODUCTION 9
1.1 INTRODUCTION 9
1.2 METHEDOLOGY 10
1.2.1 Factors that influence illegal consumers 10
1.2.2 Methods of theft 10
1.2.3 Effects of electricity theft 11
1.3 LITERATURE SURVEY 11
2 DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPONENTS 12
2.1 ESP 32 12
2.2 INCANDESCENT BULB (60W) 14
2.3 LCD 14
2.4 BUZZER 15
2.5 WIRES 17
2.6 CURRENT SENSOR 17
3 WORKING PROCEDURE 18
3.1 WORKING 18
3.2 BLOCK DIAGRAM EXPLANATION 19
3.3 ADVANTAGES 21
3.4 APPLICATIONS 21
4 HARDWARE RESULT 22
4.1 INTRODUCTION 22
4.2 CODING 24
4.3 FLOE DIAGRAM OF THEFT DETECTION 27
4.3.1 Explanation of flow diagram 28
4.3.2 Signal conversion 28
4.3.3 Theft detection logic 29
4.4 IOT INTEGRATION WITH BLYNK 30
5 CONCLUSION 31
 6

5.1 CONCLUSION 31
5.2 FUTURE SCOPE 31
REFERENCES 32
BUDGET 33

LIST OF TABLES
 7

TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

2.1 Specifications of ESP 32 development board 13

LIST OF FIGURES
 8

FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

2.1 ESP 32 12
2.2 Incandescent bulb (60w) 14
2.3 LCD 15
2.4 Buzzer 16
2.5 Wires 17
2.6 Current sensor 17
3.1 Block diagram 18
4.1 Power theft circuit 22
4.2 Without power theft of hardware 23
4.3 With power theft of hardware 23
4.4 Flow diagram of theft detection 27
4.5 Without power theft in Blynk app 30
4.5 With power theft in Blynk app 30

CHAPTER 1
 9

INTRODUCTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION

According to the survey, Indian power system faces loss of about 30% of its total
production of electricity. This loss is very high which takes place because of
transmission losses, electricity theft, etc. Major portion of its losses is due to power
theft. Power theft is done by taking tapping or hooking from transmission line or by
from the meters. Generally this type of power theft is seen in residential area which
can't be easily detected as this type of theft is done during night hours. Moreover, this kind
of power theft causes unbalance/overloading of three phases of distribution transformer.
Due to unbalance/overloading condition, the transformer 1s damaged due to heating of the
overloaded phase. This project based on protection of transformer from overloading due to
theft of power. Basically, it consists of power board where three phases enters through
which the load is supplied instead of taking tapping from nearby line passing. The power
board also contains meter or the current detector which will compare the outgoing current
and the consumed current by the customer (power delivered and power consumed). If
the both the power is different (which ultimately tells about the power theft) then, the
meter will send information about the area and pole immediately from where losses/theft
is being carried out. Also, it will secure the distribution transformer from unbalance
condition. When any of the three phases of distribution is unbalance or overloaded, this
system will try to balance the three phases which ultimately save the transformer from
tripping. As the transformer is tripped it takes about an hour to get restarted which will
affect the consumers if they are doing some important work or they are in the lift. This
system tries to balance the three phases and prevent from overloading by shifting the
load of loaded phase to the least loaded phase. If all the phases are loaded then this
system will send signal to the transformer for tap changing which will try to
compensate the load.
 10

1.2 METHODOLOGY
Electricity theft is mainly driven by economic hardship, high tariffs, and unemployment.
Even well-off individuals may steal electricity to avoid large bills, often justifying it as less
unethical when taken from public utilities. Common theft methods include unauthorized
connections, meter bypassing, and tampering with meters or time-control devices. These actions
usually involve breaking official seals and lead to significant revenue loss and strain on the power
distribution system

1.2.1 Factors That Influence Illegal Consumers

There are many factors that encourage people to steal electricity. Of

which economic factors influences people to a great extent in stealing
electricity. A common notion in many people is that, it is dishonest to steal
something from their neighbour but not from the state or public owned utility
company. In addition, other factors that influence illegal consumers are:
• Higher energy prices deject consumers from buying electricity.
• In light of this, rich and highly educated communities also steal
electricity to escape from huge utility bills.
• Growing unemployment rate show severe.

1.2.2 Methods Of Theft

Methods used to commit theft fall into the Following broad categories:

a. Connection of supply without a meter Connection of supply without a meter

following disconnection for non-payment or by "squatters" occupying empty
properties.
b. By passing the meter with a cable. It coveted into the supply side of the metering
installation (i.e. the meter terminals, the metering cables, the cut-out or the
service cable).
c. Interfering with the meter to slow or stop The disc, including use of electrical
devices which stop the meter or cause it to reverse (so-called 'black boxes).
d. Interfering with the timing control Equipment used for two rate tariffs to obtain a
cheaper rate. Methods (c) and (d) usually involve removal of official
(certification) seals and/or company seals. there effect on the customer's
economic situation.
 11

1.2.3 Effects Of Electricity Theft

Negative effects of electricity theft are severe and dangerous. Primarily, electricity
theft affects the utility company and then its customers. In addition, electricity theft
overloads the generation unit. In energy market, utility companies expect their money
back from the customers for the electricity supplied, most of which is lost by them
due to the NTL (Non technical losses).Electricity theft is a serious concern for utility
companies as they are under threat of survival because of these incurring economic
losses.

1.3 LITERATURE SURVEY

[1] S. N. Deepa and R. M. Meenakshi (2019) designed and implemented a power theft
detection system using Arduino and current transformers (CT sensors). Their method
monitored current at both entry and exit points of a consumer's load to identify
discrepancies. This differential current analysis effectively detected unauthorized usage,
proving useful for local theft detection scenarios.
[2] C. Subramani et al. (2020) carried out a feasibility study on electricity theft detection
using mobile remote check meters. Their system utilized an Arduino Uno and a GSM
module to measure and compare current flow, and sent alerts to authorities in case of
discrepancies. The setup enabled real-time detection and notification of power theft,
making it suitable for rural and remote monitoring.
[3] J. Nagi et al. (2008) proposed a method for detecting electricity theft and abnormalities
using a combination of Genetic Algorithms and Support Vector Machines (SVM). Their
technique analyzed smart meter data to classify patterns of legitimate and illegal usage.
This approach proved efficient in identifying theft within a smart grid infrastructure.
 12

CHAPTER 2
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPONENTS

2.1 ESP 32

The ESP32 is a powerful open-source microcontroller board with integrated Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth, designed for mobile devices, wearable electronics, and Internet of Things (IoT)
applications. Developed by Espressif Systems, ESP32 is a highly-integrated SoC (System-
on-Chip) featuring robust wireless communication, rich peripheral interfaces, and low-
power operation.

It can perform a wide range of functions — reading sensor data, controlling actuators,
managing communication protocols (Wi-Fi, BLE, MQTT, etc.), and running real-time
embedded tasks. With dual-core processing and more memory than many Arduino boards,
the ESP32 is ideal for projects that require connectivity and multitasking
[Link] of its versatility and low cost, ESP32 has become a go-to board for
developers, students, hobbyists, and researchers interested in creating powerful IoT-based
applications.

Figure 2.1 ESP32

 13

Features of ESP32
1. Integrated 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Classic and BLE)

2. Dual-core Tensilica LX6 microprocessor (or single-core variant)

3. Integrated 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Classic and BLE)
4. Dual-core Tensilica LX6 microprocessor (or single-core variant)
5. Multiple low-power modes for energy-efficient applications
6. 12-bit SAR ADC up to 18 channels
7. Integrated Hall sensor and temperature sensor
8. Supports SPI, I2C, I2S, UART, CAN, PWM, and DAC
9. Touch-sensitive capacitive GPIOs
10. Integrated RTC and deep sleep support
11. Secure boot and flash encryption for security-critical applications
12. USB-to-Serial via CP2102 or CH340 for programming and debugging

Table 2.1 Specifications of ESP32 development board

Parameter Specification
Tensilica Xtensa LX6 (dual-core or
Microcontroller
single-core)
Operating Voltage 3.3V
Input Voltage (Recommended) 5V (via USB), 7–12V (via VIN pin)
Digital I/O Pins 34 (varies by module)
Analog Input Pins 18 (12-bit ADC)
PWM Channels 16
SPI/I2C/I2S/UART Supported (multiple interfaces)

Flash Memory Typically 4MB (external SPI flash)

SRAM 520 KB

EEPROM Not available (use flash memory instead)

Clock Speed Up to 240 MHz
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth Bluetooth v4.2 BR/EDR and BLE
USB-to-Serial Chip CP2102 / CH340

Dimensions (ESP32 DevKit v1) Approx. 2.6" x 1.0" (65mm x 25mm)

 14

2.2 INCANDESCENT BULB (60W)

A 60-Watt Incandescent Bulb is a traditional electric light source that produces light
through the heating of a filament wire to a high temperature. The filament, typically made of
tungsten, is enclosed in a glass bulb filled with an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen to
prevent oxidation.
When electrical current passes through the filament, it heats up due to resistance and
glows, emitting visible light — a process known as incandescence. The glass enclosure also
helps in retaining heat and protecting the filament from external [Link] color
temperature of a 60W bulb is typically around 2700K, giving off a warm, yellowish light.
These bulbs are usually operated at 230V or 120V, depending on the region. Though they are
simple and inexpensive, incandescent bulbs are much less energy-efficient than modern LED
or CFL options. A large portion of the electrical energy is lost as heat rather than visible light.

Figure 2.2 60W Incandescent light bulb

2.3 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

This LCD screen is an electronic display module and find a wide range of
applications. A 16x2 LCD display is very basic module and is very commonly used in
various devices and circuits. These modules are preferred over seven segments and
other multi segment LEDs. The reasons being: LCDs are economical; easily
programmable; have no limitation of displaying special & even custom characters
(unlike in seven segments), animations and so on.
 15

A 16x2 LCD means it can display 16 characters per line and there are 2 such
lines. In this LCD each character is displayed in 5x7 pixel matrix. This LCD has two
registers, namely, Command and Data.
The command register stores the command instructions given to the LCD. A
command is an instruction given to LCD to do a predefined task like initializing it,
clearing its screen, setting the cursor position, controlling display etc. The data register
stores the data to be displayed on the LCD. The data is the ASCII value of the
character to be displayed on the LCD. Click to learn more about internal structure of a
LCD.

Figure 2.3 Pin description of LCD

2.4 BUZZER

A buzzer or beeper is an audio signaling device, which may be mechanical,

electromechanical, or piezoelectric (piezo for short). Typical uses of buzzers and
beepers include alarm devices, timers, and confirmation of user input such as a mouse
click or keystroke.
 16

Figure 2.4 Buzzer

Features and Specifications:

• Rated Voltage: 6V DC

• Operating Voltage: 4-8V DC

• Rated current: <30rnA

• Sound Type: Continuous Beep

• Resonant Frequency: ~2300 Hz

• Small and neat sealed package

• Breadboard and Perf board friendly

 17

2.5 WIRES

A jump wire (also known as jumper, jumper wire, jumper cable, DuPont wire, or
DuPont cable - named for one manufacturer of them) is an electrical wire or group of
them in a cable with a connector or pin at each end (or sometimes without them - simply
"tinned"), which is normally used to interconnect the components of a breadboard or
other prototype or test circuit, internally or with other equipment or components,
without soldering.

Figure 2.5 Wires

2.6 RS PRO PCB MOUNT CURRENT SENSE TRANSFORMERS

RS Pro current sense transformers are designed as a method of controlling, monitoring

or measuring AC currents. These current transformers are fully encapsulated for optimal PC
board mounting. The sensors serve as feedback elements between the output and the pulse
circuitry providing accurate regulation of switch mode power supplies.

Figure 2.6 Current sensor

 18

CHAPTER 3
WORKING PROCEDURE

3.1 WORKING

The working procedure of the 'Power Theft Identification System of Distribution Lines
Using Differential Power Measurement is explained below. This project is designed to find
out such power theft in the normal distribution lines. In this project we use differential
protection scheme. The Differential protection scheme consist of two CT's (Current
Transformer) connected at both the terminals of the load. If there is no fault in the load then
the secondary currents of both the CT's will be same.

So, by using same principle one CT is connected at the starting of the distribution line
and the remaining other CT's are connected to the different legal loads. If there is no
power theft in the line then the vector sum of the all CT's which are connected to the loads
will be equal to the current in the main CT. If there is a difference then there is a power
theft or any fault in the line.

I IOT

ESP32
 19

Figure 3.1 Block diagram

3.2 BLOCK DIAGRAM EXPLANATION

The Fig.3.1. is the block diagram of the power theft identification system of distribution
lines using differential power measurement. It works on the principle of differential
protection [Link] the Block Diagram it consists of:

 Current transformer (CT's)

 Loads
 Arduino Nano
 LCD
 IOT Integaration with BLYNK App

Current Transformers (CTs) are used to step down high current levels from the
distribution line to a measurable analog signal. The primary winding is connected in series
with the line to be measured, while the secondary winding outputs an analog current
proportional to the load, which is then converted into a digital signal using the ESP32’s built-
in ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter). There are two types of loads in the system: Legal
Loads and Illegal (Theft) Loads. Legal loads are those properly connected through an energy
meter and monitored using CTs. Illegal loads represent unauthorized connections made
before the CT/meter, and they bypass monitoring, leading to unrecorded consumption or
theft. The system uses an ESP32 microcontroller, which replaces the Arduino Nano for
enhanced performance. The ESP32 is a powerful, compact board with built-in Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth, operating at 3.3V, and supporting multiple ADC inputs. It enables real-time data
acquisition, processing, and IoT connectivity. A crystal oscillator ensures stable clock signals
for precise operation. The power supply section includes a step-down transformer that
converts 230V AC to 12V AC (center-tapped: 12V-0V-12V). This is then regulated to
produce 3.3V DC to power the ESP32 and other low-voltage components like the LCD. To
enable remote monitoring and alerting, the ESP32 is integrated with the Blynk IoT platform.
The current readings from the CTs are transmitted via Wi-Fi to the Blynk mobile app. If a
difference between legal and actual current is detected—indicating power theft—an alert is
sent to the user’s phone, and the theft event is also displayed on the LCD screen. This makes
 20

the system smart, real-time, and remotely accessible, enhancing the effectiveness of theft
detection in power distribution lines.

In this prototype, two loads are connected: one representing the legal load and the other
representing the theft (illegal) load. For demonstration, bulbs are used as the loads. The
theft load is connected manually to simulate unauthorized consumption and to show how
the system detects power theft in real-time.
The working of the system is explained under two cases:

CASE-1: WHEN THEFT LOAD IS NOT CONNECTED

When only the legal load is connected, only that bulb glows. The secondary currents
from both CTs—one placed near the source and the other near the legal load—are equal.
Therefore, the vector sum of the currents from both CTs remains the same. This data is fed
into the ESP32 microcontroller via its built-in ADCs.
The ESP32 runs a program that compares the two current values. Since they match, the
system assumes there is no theft, and this status is displayed on the LCD screen. The current
value is shown, and the buzzer remains off. Simultaneously, the status “No Theft Detected”
along with the current reading is sent to the Blynk IoT app over Wi-Fi, allowing remote
monitoring.

CASE-2: WHEN THEFT LOAD IS CONNECTED

When the illegal (theft) load is connected manually, both the legal and theft bulbs glow,
indicating power is drawn from an unauthorized point. As a result, the current flowing
through the source CT becomes higher than that of the CT near the legal load. This creates a
difference in the vector sum of the CT secondary currents.
The ESP32 compares the two current values and identifies a mismatch, which signals a
case of power theft. The LCD screen displays “Theft Detected” along with the real-time
current values. The buzzer is activated as an alert mechanism. Additionally, the ESP32 sends
this alert and current data to the Blynk IoT app via Wi-Fi, allowing users or utility providers
to receive theft notifications on their smartphone in real time.

This system leverages the ESP32’s Wi-Fi connectivity and multiple ADC inputs,
enabling smart power monitoring and real-time IoT-based theft detection through the Blynk
 21

platform. It makes the prototype not only functional but also scalable for future deployment
in smart grid systems.

3.3 ADVANTAGES

 Real time Power monitoring.

 It will automatically find all the power theft.
 A data log can also be maintained which will be very useful to know what is the time
and quantity of power theft and any judicial dispute.
 We can use the same project for measuring the fault using differential protection
scheme.

3.4 APPLICATIONS

 Can be used in distribution feeders.

 Can be used in industries and complexes where the power theft load will be there.

 22

CHAPTER 4
HARDWARE RESULT

4.1 INTRODUCTION

The proposed Power Theft Identification System of Distribution Lines using

Differential Power Measurement is cost effective and one of the simple way to find the
power theft in distribution lines. By this it helps to increase our nation economy because
power is used illegally which effect the nation economy directly and the installation cost is
more but we can find the power theft in particular area and particular distribution line which
reduces the time of identification of power theft now a days. Although installation cost is
more it can last for many years. By using CT's, the secondary currents of main and load CT's
is given to the Arduino Nano and with the help of program it compares the both currents, If
there is difference between two currents then there is a theft in power. If the two currents is
same then there is no power theft. This will help to tackle the problem of electricity theft
which is very high in India.

Figure 4.1 Power theft circuit

 23

Figure 4.2 Without power theft of the hardware

Figure 4.3 With power theft of the hardware

 24

4.2 CODING
#include <WiFi.h>
#include <BlynkSimpleEsp32.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

#define BUZZER_PIN 25 // Buzzer pin

#define CT_START 36 // CT sensor at the start of the line
#define CT_END 39 // CT sensor at the end of the line

#define CT_SENSOR_SENSITIVITY 0.1 // 100mV/A

#define OFFSET_VOLTAGE 1.65 // Midpoint voltage for ESP32 (3.3V ADC)
#define ADC_MAX 4095 // 12-bit ADC for ESP32

// LCD
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);

// Blynk credentials
char auth[] = "Your_Blynk_Auth_Token"; // Replace with your Blynk Auth Token
char ssid[] = "Your_WiFi_SSID"; // Replace with your WiFi SSID
char pass[] = "Your_WiFi_PASSWORD"; // Replace with your WiFi Password

void setup() {
[Link](115200);

pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, LOW);

[Link]();
[Link]();
 25

[Link](0, 0);
[Link]("Electricity");
[Link](0, 1);
[Link]("Theft Monitor");
delay(2000);
[Link]();

[Link](auth, ssid, pass);

}

void loop() {
[Link]();

int rawStart = analogRead(CT_START);

int rawEnd = analogRead(CT_END);

float voltageStart = (rawStart / float(ADC_MAX)) * 3.3;

float voltageEnd = (rawEnd / float(ADC_MAX)) * 3.3;

float currentStart = (voltageStart - OFFSET_VOLTAGE) /

CT_SENSOR_SENSITIVITY;
float currentEnd = (voltageEnd - OFFSET_VOLTAGE) /
CT_SENSOR_SENSITIVITY;

currentStart = abs(currentStart);
currentEnd = abs(currentEnd);

[Link]("Start: %.2f A | End: %.2f A\n", currentStart, currentEnd);

[Link](0, 0);
[Link]("S:%.1fA E:%.1fA", currentStart, currentEnd);
 26

if (abs(currentStart - currentEnd) > 5) {

[Link]("⚠ Theft Detected!");
[Link](0, 1);
[Link]("⚠ Theft Detected");

[Link](V0, 1); // Send alert to Blynk

digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, HIGH);
delay(3000);
digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, LOW);
} else {
[Link](0, 1);
[Link]("No Theft ");
[Link](V0, 0); // Normal condition
}

delay(500);
}
 27

4.3 FLOW DIAGRAM OF THEFT DETECTION

Start

Initialize Serial, LCD,Buzzer,Blynk

Display “Electricity Theft Monitor” on LCD

LOOP START

Read analog values from CT_START ana CT_END sensors

Calculate current at start and end

Display current values on LCD

ri Print “No Theft”

Is [current(start) – DeDeactivate buzzer,
current(end)]>A? Se Send normat status to Blynk
app

Print”Theft Detected”
Display warning on LCD,
Activate Buzzer,
Send alert via Blynk

DELAY END

Figure 4.4 Flow diagram of theft detection

 28

4.3.1 Explanation of Flow Diagram

The Electricity Theft Detection System is designed to monitor and detect unauthorized
electricity usage using CT (Current Transformer) sensors, an LCD display, a buzzer, and the
Blynk IoT platform. The process begins with the initialization of all key components: serial
communication for logging data, the LCD for visual output, the buzzer for alerts, and the
Blynk platform for sending remote notifications. After initialization, the system displays the
message "Electricity Theft Monitor" on the LCD, indicating that the device is operational.
The core functionality lies within a continuous loop where the system reads analog current
values from two CT sensors—one at the source side (CT_START) and the other at the load
side (CT_END). These readings are used to calculate the current flowing at both points. The
computed current values are then shown on the LCD screen in real-time. The system checks
for discrepancies between the two current values; if the absolute difference exceeds a
predefined threshold (denoted as A), it is assumed that electricity theft may be occurring. In
such cases, the system triggers a visual warning on the LCD, activates the buzzer for a local
alert, and sends a “Theft Detected” alert via Blynk. Conversely, if the difference is within the
safe range, the system confirms “No Theft” on the LCD, deactivates the buzzer, and sends a
normal status to Blynk. This loop is followed by a delay, after which the process repeats
continuously for ongoing monitoring and detection.

4.3.2 Signal Conversion

The ESP32’s ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) is used to read the analog voltage signal
from the CT sensors.

 12-bit ADC: maximum digital value is 4095

 ADC Reference Voltage: 3.3V (ESP32)

 Offset Voltage: 1.65V (center point for AC current waveform)

 Sensor Sensitivity: 0.1 V/A (i.e., 100 mV represents 1 Ampere)

 29

The formula to convert raw ADC data to voltage:

V_{\text{sensor}} = \frac{\text{ADC\_Value}}{4095} \times 3.3V

 V start =(ADC start /4095)×3.3

Then, the current is calculated as:

I = \frac{V_{\text{sensor}} - 1.65V}{0.1}

 I start =(V start −1.65)/0.1

 I end=(V end −1.65)/0.1

This gives the instantaneous current at both the start and the end of the line.

4.3.3 Theft detection logic

Once the current at both points is calculated, the system performs a comparison:

\text{Difference} = | I_{\text{start}} - I_{\text{end}} |

 ΔI =¿ I start−I end ∨¿

 If ΔI >5 A → Theft Detecte

If this difference is greater than a threshold (in this case, 5 Amperes), the system assumes
there is a significant unaccounted current loss, which may be due to electricity theft.

4.4 IOT INTEGRATION WITH BLYNK

 30

Fig
ure 4.5 Without power theft in Blynk app

Figu
re 4.6 With power theft in Blynk app

In figure 4.5 the Blynk IoT Console interface for a project titled "THEFT 1", developed for a
theft detection system. It shows the device in an Offline state, while in fig 4.6 shows it
Online, indicating real-time connectivity. The dashboard includes two main widgets: Alarm
and Sound, used to trigger alert mechanisms, and Integer V0, which displays sensor input
values. In the second image, the red-filled circle in Integer V0 suggests an intrusion or
motion has been detected. Blynk’s platform enables real-time monitoring, data visualization,
and responsive control for smart security syst
 31

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION

5.1 CONCLUSION

The proposed Power Theft Identification System of Distribution Lines using

Differential Power Measurement is cost effective and one of the simple way to find the
power theft in distribution lines. By this it helps to increase our nation economy because
power is used illegally which effect the nation economy directly and the installation cost
is more but we can find the power theft in particular area and particular distribution line
which reduces the time of identification of power theft now a days. Although installation
cost is more it can last for many years. By using CT's, the secondary currents of main and
load CT's is given to the Arduino Nano and with the help of program it compares the both
currents, If there is difference between two currents then there is a theft in power. If the
two currents is same then there is no power theft. This will help to tackle the problem of
electricity theft which is very high in India.
The project adheres to the following standards:
 IEC 60255: For protection relays and differential protection logic using CTs.
 IS 2705: For accuracy and safety in current transformers used in protective relaying

5.2 FUTURE SCOPE

Further this prototype is extended to find the power theft in effective manner by
using modem techniques. Still research is going on this project. We believe that this
project will reduce the power theft in our country.
 32

REFERENCES
[l] J. L. Del Monaco, "The role of distributed generation in the critical electric power
infrastructure," in IEEE-Power Engineering Soc. Winter Meeting, vol. 1, 2001, pp.
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[2] L. Philipson, "Distributed and dispersed generation: addressing the spectrum of
consumer needs," in IEEE-Power Engineering Soc. Summer Meeting, vol. 3, 2000,
pp. 1663-1665.
[3] D. Casadei, G. Grandi, R. K. Jardan, and F. Profumo, " Control strategy of a power
line for household supply," in Proc. IEEE Power Electronics Specialist Conf., vol. 2,
1999, pp. 607-612.
[4] R. K. Jardan, 0. Dranga, and D. Bereknyei, " Standby power supply using
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[5] M. Etezadi-Amoli and K. Choma,"Electrical performance characteristics of a
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[6] "ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM " by ASHFAQ HUSSAIN.
[7]"ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY VOL-II" by B.L. THAREJA . [8]
"MICROCONTROLLER" by MAZIDI ANDMAZIDI.
[7] H. T. M. R. a. H. B. W.A. Doorduin, Feasibility study of Electricity Theft detection
using Mobile Remote Check Meters, 2004.
[8] K. S. K. T. M. I. S. K. A. J. Nagi, "Detection of Abnormalities and Electricity Theft using
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[9] M. V. R. Aryadevi Remanidevi Devidas, "Wireless Smart Grid Design for Monitoring
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[10] X. X. C. W. Lijuan Chen, "Research on Antielectricity Stealing Method Base on State
Estimation," IEEE, 2011.
[11] N. J. C. A. Solomon, "A Methodology for the Design of an Electricity Theft Monitoring
System," Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 2011.
 33

BUDGET

COMPONENTS QUANTITY UNIT PRICE PRICE

ESP32
Development Board 1 500 ₹500

Bulb Indicators
4 20 ₹80

Connecting Wires
AS REQUIRED 20 ₹100

Switch
1 30 ₹30

Current Sensor
2 100 ₹200

Buzzer (Active 5V)

1 40 ₹40

16x2 LCD (with

I2C module) 1 250 ₹250

Total Estimated
Budget _ _ ₹1200