IoT Based Smart Power Quality Monitoring and Electricity Theft Detection System

Abstract

Electricity theft is a worldwide issue, but it is most prevalent in developing countries like Pakistan. The economic loss is over Rs. 90 billion per year due to electric power theft at commercial, domestic, and industrial levels. For years, the country has faced extraordinary challenges in upgrading its network responsible for the supply of electricity, but results have not been ideal. Power theft, in its various forms, can only be diminished and kept in check by the robust and firm action of power sector organizations. Hence, the objective of this paper is to provide a unique solution for not only line tampering but also meter tampering. This system, when deployed across the electricity distribution network, will help eliminate power theft through smart monitoring of the power distribution infrastructure and consumption data. Our system comprises a network of sensors to transmit real-time power consumption data to the microprocessor, which processes the data to detect power theft. The proposed method involves transmitting power consumption readings to ThingSpeak using IoT. This idea allows the electricity supplier to analyze the energy usage, locate theft and visualize consumer statistics. The physical implementation of this project will succor the electricity supply companies to hunt the culprit accountable for stealing electricity.