What is meant by 'energy theft'?

The concept of 'energy theft' specifically refers to the illegal usage of electricity. This illegal act can take many forms, such as bypassing meters, tampering with electrical systems, or connecting to power lines without authorization. Energy theft is a significant issue for utility companies, as it leads to financial losses and affects the reliability of power supply for legitimate customers.

In contrast, the other choices relate to energy management and distribution practices that are both legal and ethical. Conservation efforts aim to reduce energy consumption, distributing energy to underprivileged areas focuses on equity in energy access, and upgrading electrical systems involves improving infrastructure for better efficiency and performance. Each of these actions contributes positively to energy sustainability and access, unlike energy theft, which undermines the integrity of energy systems.