IOT Based Smart Energy Meter With Theft Detection

Abstract

Electricity theft is a massive drain on power distribution systems, causing major non-technical losses. It slashes efficiency, screws up billing, and bleeds utility providers dry financially. Traditional energy meters They're completely blind to unauthorized power draws, meter bypasses, or any real-time tampering. This paper introduces an IoT-powered Smart Energy Meter designed to catch thieves, complete with dual ACS712 current sensors. The whole thing runs on an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, grabbing data non-stop and beaming it straight to the cloud. By simply comparing the current at the utility pole with what the consumer is actually using, the system nails theft events with uncanny accuracy. Add in voltage sensing, and a relay that can remotely cut off the load, and you've got a seriously robust and secure setup. A slick IoT dashboard lets everyone watch energy use live, keeping things completely open. This proposed system is cheap to build, super scalable, and a perfect fit for today's modern smart grids.