In the early 2000s, Delhi suffered frequent power outages, with electricity losses exceeding 50% due to an aging grid and widespread theft. A professor of electrical engineering at Jamia Millia Islamia recalls daily blackouts disrupting family life and work. By 2026, sustained government and utility efforts reduced losses to 5–6%, matching France and Belgium.

The grid reliability index rose from 70% to 99.9%, enabling brighter streets, growing electric vehicle use, and improved quality of life. Delhi’s transformation offers a model for cities in Albania, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Estonia, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Venezuela facing similar grid decay.