David Milambo Kasumba1,*, Guy Nkulu Wa Ngoie2, Hyacinthe Tungadio Diambomba1,3, Matthieu Kayembe Wa Kayembe4, Flory Kiseya Tshikala1, Bonaventure Banza Wa Banza1
Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.6, pp. 2401-2416, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.063144
- 29 May 2025
Abstract Electricity theft significantly impacts the reliability and sustainability of electricity services, particularly in developing regions. However, the socio-economic, infrastructural, and institutional drivers of theft remain inadequately explored. Here we examine electricity theft in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on its patterns, causes, and impacts on service quality. Theft rates exceeded 75% in peripheral municipalities like Katuba and Kampemba, driven by poverty, weak law enforcement, and poor infrastructure dominated by above-ground networks. In contrast, central areas like Kamalondo and Lubumbashi reported lower theft rates due to better urban planning and underground systems. We found that More >