Delhi cuts electricity losses from 50% to 5%
The gist
Delhi cut its power losses from over 50% in 2002 to 5-6% by 2026.
The turnaround is cited as a model for cities with decrepit grids.
How it unfolded
- 2002Delhi's power losses stood at over 50 percent, with more than half of its power lost through obsolete equipment and theft; the grid reliability index was around 70 percent.
- Jan 2002A cold January morning in New Delhi: the author's household experienced its third power outage in a week, with outages lasting hours.
- Jul 2007A child walks past a store in New Delhi specializing in reconditioned generators, as fear of summer power cuts spurs demand.