Prepaid Electricity Meters Research Articles

Money or Power? Choosing Covid-19 aid in Kenya

In response to the Covid-19 crisis, 186 countries implemented direct cash transfers to households, and 181 introduced in-kind programs that lowered the cost of utilities such as electricity, water, transport, and mobile money. During times of crisis, do people prefer in-kind transfers or cash, and why? In this paper, we compare electricity transfers against a benchmark of cash transfers (mobile money) among 2000 rural and urban residents of Kenya with pre-paid electricity meter connections. We offer participants an incentivized choice between electricity transfers or mobile money, totaling approximately USD 10 to 15, and then implement their choice over three months. We generate three main findings. First, participants overwhelmingly prefer cash, with three-quarters of participants opting for mobile money even when offered electricity tokens with a cash value that is 40 percent higher, possibly due to the flexibility in expenditures or credit constraints. Second, despite relatively low baseline electricity consumption, preference for cash is slightly lower in rural areas, possibly due to higher transaction costs for purchasing electricity, lower mobile money penetration, or savings constraints. Third, electricity tokens transfers generate a larger increase in electricity consumption than equivalent cash transfers, suggesting a role for mental accounting; however, we estimate no impact of either electricity or cash transfers on a broad set of socioeconomic outcomes. These patterns suggest that mobile money transfers generate larger welfare gains than electricity credit, at least in settings with high mobile money penetration.

Pre-SEMMS: A Design of Prepaid Smart Energy Meter Monitoring System for Household Uses Based on Internet of Things

The use of prepaid smart electricity services from the State Electricity Company (SEC) for the general public in Indonesia has increased. It is because prepaid electricity has several advantages compared to postpaid electricity. One of them is that it is becoming easier for customers to manage and control their daily electricity usage. Customers can also estimate their total electricity consumption each month. However, customers still have to manually view the information on the electricity meter to find data and information on prepaid electricity. It can make it difficult for customers if the electricity meter is placed outside the house, which is quite far away. Customers must also constantly monitor the use of electricity. This article discusses a prepaid smart electricity consumption monitoring design using Internet of Things technology. The design is carried out without changing the standard prepaid electricity meter system from the SEC. However, a KWH meter tool has been developed that has been combined with Internet of Things technology and can calculate and monitor electricity usage. The results show that with this system, customers can more easily find out and monitor their daily electricity consumption.

HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY LOAD FORECASTING TOWARD DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM USING DATA MINING TECHNIQUES IN A TRADITIONAL POWER GRID

At present, the continuous increase of household electricity demand is strategic and crucial in electricity demand management. Household electricity consumers can play an important role in this issue. The rationalization of electricity consumption might be achieved by using an efficient Demand Response (DR) program. In this paper a new methodology is suggested using a combination of data mining techniques namely K-means clustering, K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN) classification and ARIMA for electricity load forecasting using consumers' electricity prepaid bills data set of an ordinary electricity grid with prepaid electricity meters. As a result of applying this methodology, various DR programs are recommended as an attempt to assist the management of electricity system to manage the electricity demand issues from demand-side in an efficient and effective manner, which can be put into practice. A case study has been carried out in Tulkarm District, Palestine. The performance of applying the suggested methodology is measured, and the results are considered very well.Keywords: Demand Response (DR); K-means Clustering; K-Nearest Neighbor classification (K-NN); ARIMA model; Prepaid electricity metersJEL Classifications: Q4, Q41, Q47, Q49DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.11192

The Application of Smart Home System to Manage Electric Prepaid Type R1 KWH Meter Using Lattepanda Single Board Computer

The software industry encourages large investments in technology, researchers make a simple concept in the process of digitizing home electrical switches to save and optimize the time of use of electricity on any electronic devices that are connected to electricity. The making of the system has been designed with the electric switch countdown time activated so that the user can set the length of time the electricity is used as needed to save the prepaid electric pulse-type R1. Another capability of this electricity management software is that it can calculate the use of kilowatt-hour quickly based on the basic electricity tariff that educates for the importance of 1 kilowatt-hour. From the results of testing and developers using microprocessor technology using laser markers making smart home software can manage electricity savings precisely and easily on R1 prepaid electricity meters.

Formulating best practice recommendations for prepaid electricity meter deployment in Soweto, South Africa – Capitalising on the developed‐world's experiences

This study seeks to formulate best practice indicators characterising the prepaid electricity meter market. This was undertaken by reviewing both developed and developing countries' experiences with the technology, conducting in‐depth interviews with key stakeholders, and applying the strength weaknesses opportunities threats analysis tool. The generated outcomes are used to formulate a set of best practice recommendations that can inform decisions on improving the acceptability rate of the technology in Soweto. We found that the introduction of the technology faces a number of challenges, broadly being its complete rejection by some communities. In particular, the inadequacy or absence of incentives, the absence of prepaid meter market tariffs and regulatory mechanisms are fundamental factors affecting acceptance levels and effectiveness of the technology in developing countries. The case of Soweto is unique in that it has a historical political basis that even led to some violent protests. To improve the acceptance level and increase the buy‐in of local communities in Soweto, we formulated a number of best practice recommendations including the need to factor in the programme design the historical context‐specificity of Soweto, its low‐income status, the need to put the communities at the centre of the programme and the implementation of incentive measures inspired from the developed world.

A cultural perspective on cooking patterns, energy transfer programmes and determinants of liquefied petroleum gas use in the Andean Peru

In 2012, the Peruvian government launched the public-private initiative for energy inclusion (FISE) to promote equitable access to subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders. The objective of this study was to explore cooking patterns, attitudes towards the FISE-programme, and factors influencing LPG use in rural Andean Peru. Forty-eight women from four communities completed a paper-based questionnaire on cooking practices and demographic characteristics. They partook in focus group discussions and participant observation sessions. In addition, we conducted 12 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with local authorities, FISE-programme contractor officials and male family heads. Despite the large outreach of the FISE-programme in the region, discrepancies in the administrative practices of public and private partners made it difficult for FISE-beneficiaries to obtain both LPG stoves and FISE-voucher discounts. The complications experienced by households not connected to the electricity grid may serve as an illustration of this lack of coordination. The FISE-programme inclusion criteria required a stable monthly electricity consumption of 30 kW-hours, thus excluding families with prepaid electricity meters living in remote areas. Overall, we found that the FISE-programme did not lead to exclusive LPG use in our setting. LPG was the second preferred source of cooking energy after firewood, and women only used LPG for preparing quick meals (e.g. soups) or for reheating meals. The main barriers limiting LPG use included purchasing costs; difficulties completing other daily chores while cooking; technologies not matching local cooking needs; the need to save time; and the perception that LPG affects the taste of food. Peruvian LPG programmes should harmonise their recruitment schemes, and the FISE-programme should modify its criteria to ensure the inclusion of all vulnerable populations. In view of the evidence obtained from other countries and the high prevalence of stove-stacking practices, LPG initiatives in rural Andean Peru merit from incorporating socio-cultural dimensions and alternative cooking technologies adapted to local fuel preferences, food cultures, and cooking demands in order to achieve a sustained LPG transition.

Automatic Consumption Management for Prepaid Electricity Meter with NILM

Recently, the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) regularized the electricity prepayment system and opened a general discussion about the technologies, resources, and implementations for the prepayment metering system. In several countries, the consumer charges the value equivalent to the kilowatt-hours that he wishes to buy for use. However, some consumers purchase credit with the expectation that the charge remains for a specific time, but they may be surprised with the credit end before the expected time. For this reason, this paper proposes automatic consumption management for prepaid meters that analyzes the consumer appliance behavior, performs the temporal analysis of consumption by appliances, defines the cost management per load with high energy consumption and sends sound signals to the consumer ends the appliance usage. The objective of this management system is to ensure that the credit will be used for the consumer expected time.

ANALYZE THE LOSS OF ELECTRICITY IN PALESTINE CASE STUDY: RAMALLAH AND AL-BIREH GOVERNORATE

The study aimed to investigate the factors leading to the loss of electricity in Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate in Palestine. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, descriptive and quantitative analysis was used in this study. Based on the data of the Jerusalem Electricity Company, and the data of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics for 2010-2018, the Ordinary Least Squares method (OLS) was used in regression analysis, and by Granger Causality Test the hypotheses were tested using Eviews. The study found that there is a causal negative relationship between wages, the number of pre-paid electricity meters, fines imposed on violators, and the number of participants on the loss of electricity. While there was no causal relationship between the price of electricity, the unemployment rate, the rate of education, and spending on maintenance on the loss of electricity.

Iot Enabled Prepaid Electricity Meter

Internet of Things is guiding a lot of development in virtual reality, embedded systems etc. Energy meter system based on IOT applications can offer you a number of immediate benefits. A flawed system can lead to tremendous budgetary loss of a consumer as well as theft of electricity. Errors in traditional billing system occur at every stage, be it a faulty meter, calculation cost of electricity use, human errors for noticing the units consumed and other blunders. The solution for this stumbling block is “Smart Electric Meter” based on prepaid system. Our proposed system is implemented using system design embedded with NodeMCU 8266 Wifi-module which allows consumer to effectively manage their prepaid accounts and apparently set various alerts and receive various notifications through email. A prepaid system beyond the shadow of doubt will get rid of issues with traditional meters like unpaid bills, theft and monetary savings.

Exploring the driving factors of prepaid electricity meter rejection in the largest township of South Africa

Technology rejection phenomenon manifests itself differently across different societies. Over the past two decades, low income households in Soweto have persistently rejected prepaid electricity meters. Until now, the basis of the rejection in the region remains scientifically underexplored. We therefore conduct an exploratory study pertaining prepaid meter rejection in Soweto. Through triangulation research and survey approach, 88 households based in Orlando East and Diepkloof were interviewed by means of a questionnaire. Our study identifies three factors that could potentially be linked to the rejection of prepaid electricity meters in Soweto, namely: lack of quality consultation and education, the high levels of electricity consumption, and unattainable politically motivated promises are the main reasons that currently fuel prepaid meter rejection. We emphasise that the current state of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy also fuels rejection, as it remains socio-economically inadequate and irrelevant for indigent households. We therefore note the need for an FBE policy review and update as well as the establishment of a policy monitoring committee to ensure implementation and enforcement. This study should be regarded as an exploratory study pending a more systematic causal analysis in the future.

KWh Meter Smart Card Model Token For Electrical Energy Monitoring

This research Producer Electric meter Appliance model base on smart card kWh (kilo Watt hour). The card power meter Is use to calculate the prepaid electricity meter using the 20-digit voucher number as a charging medium. Utilizing a smart card, the token number in the prepaid electricity meter can help reduce the error rate when entering the token number, the model destination is created. Hardware design and with apps to detect how much energy is used to store basic data to help view history of usage. Using smart cards and microcontrollers in apps that come from a usage history in the Pulse usage category will help users know their usage in efficient, normal, and wasteful categories. The results of this research is a meter model with credit card for charging pulses, and data processing applications as devices that can be used for various electricity consumption. The information system is used as a model validation with pulse input that provides information about the use of electrical energy and as a determinant to save the time and time required to make optimal energy

The Effect of Prepaid Electricity System on Household Energy Consumption – The Case of Bogor, Indonesia

Governments are increasingly seeking low-cost ways to curb residential energy use. This article examines the effect of one such innovative approach to energy savings in Bogor, Indonesia: a prepaid electricity meter system. The Bogor prepaid system requires households pay up front for their electricity as the meter tracks consumption and credit. By enabling users to see the relationship between energy use and costs, the metering system is intended to promote energy savings behaviour. However, the system in Bogor is introduced on a voluntarily opt-in basis. Further, it is still uncertain whether those joining the program will actually save energy. Identifying which kinds of households are most likely to join the program and then save energy are important considerations as policymakers contemplate further reforms to Bogor's prepaid system. A survey was conducted of 600 Bogor households to determine whether certain kinds of households were more inclined to join the voluntary program and self-report energy-relevant behaviour. A seemingly unrelated regression equation (SURE) model was then used to estimate the possible correlation between a series of covariates familiar to the energy savings literature and the decision to initially join and then saving energy through the program. The result shows the family size and recent income changes (during the last five years) were more likely to join voluntary program, while senior citizens were less likely to join. The results also reveal that education level play significant role in changing behaviour of households in the program. The results suggest that the program needs to be made convenient for low-income and elderly households. Accompanying the program with additional information on energy savings might also help make the program more effective.

Tenants Right to Have Energy-Landlords are Not Suppliers of Electricity

The court ordered a Johannesburg landlord Young Ming Shan CC to repay tenants service charges levied against them since May 2009. The court also directed the landlord to provide each tenant, on demand, a copy of its monthly account from City Power.The owner or landlord who installs cable network and individual pre-paid electricity meters or separate meters that work off the (bulk) credit meter, does not become a supplier of electricity. The Gauteng Rental Housing Tribunal’s findings confirmed by the south Gauteng high court.

Design and Assemble of Low Cost Prepaid Smart Card Energy Meter – A Novel Design

In India, presently distribution companies are collecting revenues from their consumers by metering and billing. The expenses for metering, billing, and collecting dues became complex as electricity is supplied to large number of consumers located in far-flung areas, resulted in high cost per unit. This may encourage consumers to fudge meter readings. To address these problems, distribution companies can opt prepaid smart card energy meter, which overcomes the whole problems associated with the present billing system and will make the consumer more conscious about usage electricity. This paper explores the design and assemble of smart card prepaid electricity meter system, which enables the consumer to buy required amount of energy and also provides information about their credit balance. A prototype of the system has been developed with the state-of-the-art digital and information technology and proven to be stable, reliable, tamper resistant, low cost, and easy maintenance. Electricity is a major source of energy in the world and used in every civilized country for domestic, commercial and industrial purpose. Recently owing to raise in number of new housing, commercial and industrial developments in India, the number of consumers of electricity have been increased in the network distribution. The monthly power bill for consumers is calculated from post-paid meter reading based on the electricity consumption. But the disadvantage of this system is that meter readers are needed to visit every door to door to read the meter for billing purposes. This is a tiresome, lengthy and error prone process. Moreover, there is a chance for consumers as well as meter readers to do the corruption. In post-paid system (1), the monthly bill sent to the consumer by mail in the beginning of the month and all the consumers often need to gather in a long queue to pay the bills. This procedure is tiresome and time consuming. In this paper, a prepaid metering (PPM) system (2) has been proposed. Each consumer has to install digitally designed prepaid electricity meter along with smart card in their home, office or industry. Based on the electricity utilization the credit will be deducted automatically from the smart card. When the credit goes below the threshold value, the meter gives warning icons and if credit reaches to zero the meter will automatically cut off the power supply. The consumer has to go to the vending station with the smart card and money to buy electricity. In the vending station, user can buy the credit to his smart card by paying the money. Then the consumer will insert the smart card to the meter and the meter will be recharged. In prepaid billing system, the consumer will be always conscious about the remaining credit and thus try to use electricity carefully and stop its misuse. Furthermore, in contrast with post-paid billing, the consumer can buy credit at any time in the month from the vending station.

Level of Cooperativeness of Individuals to Issues of Energy Conservation

Zimbabwe like many other developing nations has energy supply that is less than energy demand. This entails prioritization and increased prices economically, however as energy is a basic need, a different approach is called for. The goal of human development needs to be achieved, which has seen some programmes like rural electrification being undertaken. The study uses a questionnaire approach on a sample of 200 people, to check and analyse their approach to energy use in the economy. A probit model is used to determine the individual factors that affect energy conservation. The study found that age, household size, energy bills and gadget purchase behaviour all explains energy conservation. The study found income, gender and residential status insignificant in explaining the level of cooperativeness of individuals to energy conservation. The study also analyse the effect of recently introduced prepaid electricity meters on energy conservation.

Controlling groundwater pumping online

Groundwater over-pumping is a major problem in several countries around the globe. Since controlling groundwater pumping through water flow meters is hardly feasible, the surrogate is to control electricity usage. This paper presents a framework to restrict groundwater pumping by implementing an annual individual electricity quota without interfering with the electricity pricing policy. The system could be monitored online through prepaid electricity meters. This provides low transaction costs of individual monitoring of users compared to the prohibitive costs of water flow metering and monitoring. The public groundwater managers' intervention is thus required to determine the water and electricity quota and watch the electricity use online. The proposed framework opens the door to the establishment of formal groundwater markets among users at very low transaction costs. A cost–benefit analysis over a 25-year period is used to evaluate the cost of non-action and compare it to the prepaid electricity quota framework in the Batinah coastal area of Oman. Results show that the damage cost to the community, if no active policy is implemented, amounts to (−$288) million. On the other hand, the implementation of a prepaid electricity quota with an online management system would result in a net present benefit of $199 million.