Solutions for detection of non-technical losses in the electricity grid: A review

This paper is a review of literature with an analysis on a selection of scientific studies for detection of nontechnical losses. Non-technical losses occurring in the electric grid at level of transmission or of distribution have negative impact on economies, affecting utilities, paying consumers and states. The paper is concerned with the lines of research pursued, the main techniques used and the limitations on current solutions. Also, a typology for the categorization of solutions for detection of non-technical losses is proposed and the sources and possible attack/vulnerability points are identified. The selected literature covers a wide range of solutions associated with non-technical losses. Of the 103 selected studies, 6 are theoretical, 25 propose hardware solutions and 72 propose non-hardware solutions. Data based classification models and data from consumption with high resolution are respectively required in about 47% and 35% of the reported solutions. Available solutions cover a wide range of cases, with the main limitation found being the lack of an unified solution, which enables the detedtion of all kinds of non-technical losses.