
AnIndianelectricianriskslifeandlimbtosiphonoffelectricityforpoorareasinacitycrippledbypowercuts.<br/> LohaSingh,a28-year-oldelectricianintheIndiancityofKanpur,isrenownedforhisexpertiseinstealingelectricity.Someseehimasamodern-dayRobinHood,siphoningoffelectricityfromthegridandprovidingfreeconnectionsinpoorneighbourhoods.Inthefaceofcripplingpowercuts,hisskillsenablehomes,factoriesandbusinessestofunctionnormally.<br/> However,thingsmaybeabouttochange.Thecity'selectricitysupplycompanyhasanewboss,RituMaheshwari,whoisdeterminedtoclampdownontheft.Itcostsbillionsofrupeesinlostrevenueandholdsbackvitalinfrastructureupgrades.Shedispatchesraidteamstocatchelectricitythieves,doleoutfinesandcutoffillegalconnections.<br/> Althoughinitiallysuccessful,theclean-upeffortspromptprotestsandviolenceinneighbourhoodswherepeoplefeelunjustlytargeted.AddingtoMaheshwari'sproblems,alocalpoliticianralliesagainstherduringasummerofacuteelectricityshortages.Willshesucceedinchangingthesystemorwillhercampaignbederailed?<br/> Powerlessprovidesafascinatinginsightintothepoliticsofelectricityinoneoftheworld'sfastest-growingeconomies,wheretheneedforpowerisrisingrapidlyandaround300millionpeoplelackaccessaltogether.

