Abstract
Energy theft has been a significant safety concern in power systems since the industry's origins in the 19th century. In 2023, rising energy prices led to record-high cases of energy theft in the UK, with stolen energy estimated to be valued between £830 million to £1.388 billion. This unprecedented theft not only drove up energy costs but also created serious safety risks due to dangerous illegal connections. However, most research on energy theft focuses on detection methods and often assumes it is mainly a problem in developing countries. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of energy theft in the UK, examining societal and industry-led efforts to combat it. Moreover, it highlights areas where the industry could improve to effectively identify and mitigate energy theft.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | 28th International Conference and Exhibition on Electricity Distribution, CIRED 2025 |
| Place of Publication | London, U. K. |
| Publisher | Institution of Engineering and Technology |
| Pages | 2844-2848 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781837245277 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Nov 2025 |
| Event | 28th International Conference and Exhibition on Electricity Distribution, CIRED 2025 - Geneva, Switzerland Duration: 16 Jun 2025 → 19 Jun 2025 |
Conference
| Conference | 28th International Conference and Exhibition on Electricity Distribution, CIRED 2025 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Switzerland |
| City | Geneva |
| Period | 16/06/25 → 19/06/25 |
Keywords
- DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
- ENERGY THEFT
- THEFT DETECTION INCENTIVE
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Engineering