Tariff Digitalization for Power Theft Detection in Transmission Lines

Abstract

In underdeveloped nations, where power grids provide insufficient and unstable power, electricity theft is most prevalent. Approximately $96 billion is lost annually due to electricity theft worldwide. Theft of electrical power is considered an offence known as electricity theft. Energy theft is a common behavior that predates the distribution of electricity. A range of techniques, from the most basic, such as simply connecting to a power line, through the manipulation of computerized electrical meters, are used to steal electricity. Fines and jail are a few of the penalties for the offence. Non- technical losses are those resulting from the theft's impact on the electricity supply. Many methods for identifying electricity theft have been put forth. This paper presents a prototype model which helps the distribution companies (DISCO) that transfers energy from generating stations to consumers to digitalize the present tariff system. It is accomplished by sending the messages to the consumer of their energy consumption and reduce the non-technical losses which occurs mainly due to energy theft by direct hooking from service lines and bypassing the metering system. With the use of a smart energy meter, this model is utilized to automatically determine when and where a theft is occurring by any resident, business, industry, etc. This paper also presents a method to find location of the electricity theft as quickly as possible, thereby allowing the distributors to take necessary measures to rectify the situation and penalize the wrongdoers.