It is possible to capture a power satellite beam, but it isn't easy.

To get the phasing right so the beam actually focuses on the rectenna requires a pilot beam up from the center of the rectenna. To move this to a nearby city would require ripping out the encrypted transmitter loading it in a truck and driving it to a city. If someone noticed that 5 GW of power had vanished, they might get a bit upset and turn off the satellite. But assuming that didn't happen, the people in the city would get another 250 W/m^2 or about 1/4 of the energy of standing out in the sun. In the winter time, you might feel the need to take off a heavy coat. In the summer you would want to put on your aluminum foil hat.

Keith Henson