According to the article, Delhi’s electricity losses fell from more than 50 percent in 2002 to between 5 and 6 percent in 2026. This reduction brings the city’s loss level in line with countries such as France and Belgium, and better than Greece and Serbia. The source notes that the improvement stems from a quarter‑century effort by the government and Delhi’s distribution utilities to modernize the grid. The article also reports that the grid reliability index—a measure of how often electricity can be counted on—was around 70 percent in 2002 and has now topped 99.9 percent. Peak electricity demand in Delhi reached an all‑time high of 8,748 megawatts this year, the piece says. Delhi currently purchases about 76 percent of its power from central generating companies and private players in neighboring states, while generation within the city is limited to natural gas and renewable sources. Of the electricity generated locally, roughly 48.5 percent comes from coal, 26.5 percent from natural gas, and the remainder from carbon‑free sources, with hydropower contributing 15.6 percent. The text cites Tata Power‑DDL as having replaced about five kilometres of overhead lines with underground cables in areas such as Janta Flats in Shalimar Bagh, a move that reduced losses and improved street aesthetics. The article explains that high losses previously resulted from an aging distribution network, obsolete equipment, and electricity theft, which left utilities with insufficient revenue to invest in upgrades. By addressing technical issues such as excessive current, resistance, and reactive power flow, the utilities were able to cut the amount of energy wasted as heat. The source mentions that the improved reliability has supported growth in electric vehicles, brighter streetlights, and better quality of life for residents, even amid Delhi’s extreme summer heat and winter cold. While challenges like pollution and overcrowding remain, the article concludes that reliable power is no longer among the city’s problems and that Delhi’s experience could serve as a model for other regions facing similar grid degradation.
