Prepaid Electricity Research Articles

Integration of a Smart Power Meter for Monitoring Household Energy Consumption in Prepaid Electrical Systems

Indonesian households have widely embraced the prepaid electricity payment system. The system relies on electricity credits, with each electrical device consuming credits as a unit of measurement for energy usage. A common issue is the automatic cutoff of electricity supply when the credits are depleted. This research designed a smart power meter using Current Transformer and voltage sensors. The electrical token value is then stored in the Arduino's EEPROM before being transmitted to the NodeMCU. The NodeMCU transfers the data to Antares using the MQTT protocol to forward it to the subscriber, typically an Android device. The data sent to the Android application includes current, voltage, active power, frequency, cos φ, and electrical credits. The measurement of electricity consumption on a kWh meter involves subtracting the value of the input electricity token from the device-measured electricity usage. The device sends a WhatsApp message when the remaining credit exceeds 10 kWh. The prototype of the smart power meter demonstrates practical functionality, with the current sensor accuracy at 99.983% and the voltage sensor accuracy at 99.999%. The largest measurement difference of the electric credit balance between the PLN Meter and the prototype is 0.04 kWh over a test period of 72 hours.

Public Relations Services of PT PLN (Persero) North Makassar Customer Implementation Unit in Overcoming Customer Complaints (Prepaid Electricity Case Study)

Public Relations Services of PT PLN (Persero) North Makassar Customer Implementation Unit in Overcoming Customer Complaints (Prepaid Electricity Case Study)

Prepaid into poverty? Exploring energy poverty and access to alternative electricity sources among urban poor households in Ghana

Access to energy is linked to poverty reduction and economic growth. However, electricity access rates in Africa have been very low despite recording progressive declines of people without access over the past decade. To achieve SDG 7, there is a need to provide electricity to people without access, the majority of whom live in Africa. Prepaid metering, being implemented in many African countries, is anticipated as a system to enhance electricity access and to ensure revenue is recovered successfully.In spite of the rapid urbanisation rate on the continent, there has been lack of research focus on electricity access in urban poor communities. The paper critically expands the simple binary measure that narrowly scrutinises urban poor communities' connection to the electricity grid or not by providing a framework to address and define energy access. It further examines residential prepaid electricity access in the urban context and more importantly, it does so in the advent of the geopolitical and economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.Using qualitative data from 85 interviewees in Kumasi-Ghana, findings show that although households are connected to the national electricity grid, reliability, adequacy, availability and affordability remain obstacles preventing utilisation, meaning households resort to alternative fuel sources that are generally regarded as environmentally damaging and harmful. It is envisioned that the findings would be pertinent for policy makers and stakeholders working to achieve Sustainable Development Goals related to improving the lives of the urban poor (SDG 7 and 11).

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.

Analisis Sistem Informasi Akuntansi Pendapatan Penerimaan Kas Listrik Prabayar Pada PT Ajamu Faadhilah Agung

This research aims to determine the accounting information system process regarding cash receipts from new prepaid electricity connections and meter replacement from postpaid to prepaid as implemented by PT. AJAMU FADHILAH AGUNG which is located at Pasar VII Street No. 2 Gg. Karya Rotan Sei Rotan Village. PT AJAMU FAADHILAH AGUNG is a company operating in the electrical and mechanical sector as a provider of electrical power installation services in Indonesia, so it is hoped that it can play an active role in supporting government policies together with PT. PLN (Persero). This research is limited to new connections to prepaid electricity and replacing meters from postpaid to prepaid. Problem formulation: 1. What is the accounting information system regarding cash receipts? 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages in implementing information systems. Research objectives: 1. To find out the application of accounting information systems regarding cash receipts. 2. To find out the advantages and disadvantages of applying accounting information systems regarding cash receipts. The data collection method used in this research is decision technique and direct research in the field. The technical analysis used is the description method, namely a method carried out by analyzing the cash receipts related to new prepaid electricity connections and meter replacement from postpaid - prepaid.

A STUDY ON THE EVALUATION OF USER SATISFACTION WITH PREPAID AND POSTPAID ELECTRICITY SERVICES IN BIMA CITY

The goal of the research is to find out how happy people are with Bima Kota's prepaid and postpaid energy services. Quantitative methods are used in this study. The data used is primary data, which comes from giving surveys to the people being studied. All the people who use energy in the Nitu Village in Kota Bima are included in this study. Cluster random sampling is used to get the sample data, and there are 100 people in the group. The results of the study show that 1) Tangibles, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance, and Empathy variables have an effect on people who use prepaid electricity services where people are satisfied with the services provided; 2) Tangibles, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance, and empathy variables have an effect on people who use postpaid electricity services where people are satisfied with the services provided; and 3) the dimensions of tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, confidence, and emphasis So that means there is a difference in how happy people are with prepaid electricity versus postpaid energy. As for the confidence dimension, it has a t count > t table or a prob value > alpha 0.05, which means that there is no significant difference between respondents who paid for their electricity in advance and those who paid for it later. The positive mean difference means that the average satisfaction of people who paid for their electricity in advance is better than that of people who paid for their electricity later.

Smart Card Based Prepaid Electricity System Interfacing With The Cloud

Smart Card Based Prepaid Electricity System Interfacing With The Cloud

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.

Low Cost Prepaid Energy Meter

Many industries require a certain amount of electrical power. Prepaid metering, with its unique performance in the Internet of Things (IoT), tends to be an efficient power management system by providing cost-effective prepaid electricity services to the industrial sector. Errors can occur at any stage of the energy billing process, including errors in electromechanical meters, human errors during meter reading, and errors in processing paid and unpaid bills. A prepaid energy meter is the solution to these problems. In this work, prepaid energy meters were developed to reduce energy consumption in the industry. The introduction of this prepaid meter will contribute to improving energy management, saving energy, and eliminating fraudulent billing. Automated billing systems track consumption in real time, eliminating the possibility of fraudulent billing and consumption disputes. A prepaid energy meter was developed using current and voltage sensors, and the energy meter was tested with a load connected to a 220 V power supply. Energy meters are connected to the cloud to create a user alert system.

Effects of Perceived Billing System on Customers’ Preference for Pre-Paid Electricity Metering System in Ekiti State, Nigeria

This study examined how customers' preferences for pre-paid power metering systems in Ekiti State, Nigeria, were influenced by their perceptions of the billing system. Primary method of data collection was used. Data were obtained via a structured questionnaire that was given to a carefully chosen sample of 381 electricity users in the Ado-Ekiti metropolitan, the state capital of Ekiti, using a systematic sampling technique. The extent to which customers' preferences are impacted by how they perceive the billing system was examined using the Pearson product moment correlation method. The findings showed that customers' preferences for pre-paid power metering systems are positively and significantly influenced by how they view the billing system. The findings showed that customers' preferences for pre-paid power metering systems are positively and significantly influenced by how they view the billing system.

Purchase Experience of Low Income Prepaid Electricity Users in Tshwane, South Africa

Purpose: Residents and business owners in South Africa are encouraged to adopt prepaid electricity, in order to manage the monthly usage more efficiently. However, reluctance amongst some residents is still found.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: The fear of running out of credits amongst non-users raised the need to interview 389 low-income residents, by means of a structured questionnaire, on how they experience the buying of prepaid credits.
 Findings: Even though the results from the data collected were positive, especially when it comes to males and females, significant differences were observed between certain age groups, employment status and levels of income. These observations were noticeable when statements on the reasons for when they run out of credits, how this motivates them to pay for the use of the service; and whether they perceive the purchasing process as being convenient.
 Implications/Originality/Value: Seeing that the residents of certain cities within South Africa are still reluctant to use prepaid meters, the results of this study could be used, in order to refine the current awareness campaigns used by electricity providers, especially when targeted at those falling within a specific age and income group.

Pengambilan Keputusan Strategi Dalam Pencapaian Target Migrasi Pelanggan Prabayar Pada PLN UP3 Tanjung Karang

Prepaid electricity or smart electricity is a service for using electrical energy by means of pln customers paying the initial fee to obtain electrical energy for use or using a token system, so that customers do not need to deal with the monthly electricity bill payment schedule and can make it easier for customers to control electricity usage and Prepaid electricity is also expected to be able to reduce late payments or what can be called arrears. The aim of the researchers in this study is to analyze and find out what strategies are appropriate in an effort to achieve the migration target of prepaid electricity customers at PT PLN (Persero) UP3 Tanjung Karang using the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method and Expert Choice analysis tools that are useful for giving weights. with the aim of obtaining priority strategies. The conclusion of this study shows the right strategy to achieve the prepaid customer migration target in this research, namely improving prepaid customer service followed by free UJL promos and discounts on adding power to pln mobile and village migration programs.

An Electronic Double Auction of Prepaid Electricity Trading Using Blockchain Technology

Thailand’s current energy trading system is an Enhanced Single Buyer (ESB), a market monopoly by a single buyer. It will produce and distribute electricity to service providers in each area, enabling them to distribute services to consumers. In terms of the consumer aspect, it is necessary to purchase electricity from only one seller, and it is not possible to choose the manufacturer independently. Since the price mechanism is not competitive, the market price is mainly determined by a single buyer. Meanwhile, alternative energy power generation technology has progressed. Anyone can become a power producer using wind power or solar energy. People can easily produce electricity to use in their households. Besides, residual energy from use will be sold only to the ESB. However, there is a selling restriction because there is only one buyer. Importantly, Blockchain technology can be applied to enable independent electricity trading. In other words, called peer-to-peer (P2P) trading, the Thai government has policies to promote P2P trading. However, there are not many systems supporting P2P energy trading since P2P trading is still in the beginning stages of the Pilot Project. In this study, the researchers have presented a P2P Power Trading Model using Blockchain technology. This research presents a system with efficiency and simplicity. Also, there are other technology highlights such as IoT, Lora, and Electronic Double Auction. The researcher has designed, implemented, and tested it for actual electrical power trading. It can prove to be traded according to the designed test cases. Importantly, we are truly confident that this research will benefit those interested in developing real-world applications. This research can also be used as an alternative to the traditional power purchase and sale system.

Single Phase Prepaid Smart Energy Meter System Using an RFID AND Arduino Nano

Abstract: In the present day scenario, the energy consumption awareness plays an important role as its demand is growing day by day. Huge differences in energy production and consumption urges the need to reduce the power wastage. The prepaid electricity system proposed in this paper aims at reducing the wastage of power due to its theft and control its usage on the consumer side. This increases the overall efficiency of the power system. The RFID card enables a consumer to utilize the energy for which he has paid. A microcontroller continuously checks if his balance is within the threshold limit and he is notified when his balance goes below the limits. Once it exceeds the threshold value, the supply is automatically cut off. The user can then recharge by making an online payment whenever necessary. The LCD continuously shows the units of energy consumed.

ANALYSIS OF PREPAID ELECTRICITY MARKETING COMMUNICATION STRATEGY IN THE ERA OF PANDEMI COVID 19 IN WORKING AREAS PT. PLN (Persero) CUSTOMER SERVICE UNIT (CSU) CIBADAK SUKABUMI

The purpose of this study were (1). To give you an idea of how models of Marketing Communication Strategies used PT. PLN (Persero) Customer Service Unit Cibadak Sukabumi Prepaid Electric Program. (2). To find out the factor and factor inhibitors Marketing Communication Strategy Supporting the use PT. PLN (Persero) Customer Service Unit Cibadak Sukabumi Prepaid Electric Program. This study uses descriptive qualitative method. Data from this study were obtained by performing Inteview, observation and documentation. Development of the validity of the data in this study was done by using triangulation. Triangulation techniques used in this study were triangulation, triangulation of data sources and time triangulation. The results obtained are: (1). Electricity Programme Prepaid socializing, PT. PLN (Persero) Customer Service Unit Cibadak Sukabumi, using the Model of Marketing Communications Strategy include: Sender (Source/Sender). Enconding (Translation), The transmission, decoding (Respond and intrepetasi), Action and Feedback. By utilizing direct marketing communications media, and not directly. This direct communication includes several programs related to information and dissemination of Prepaid Electricity Program, the Program Through SARLING (Marketing Roving), cooperation with local or central government, and Person to Person or from the mouth of the mouth. While no direct communication, we use the media covering Promotion Mix Advertising, Sales Promotion, Personal Selling, and Digital Online Marketing. (2). In this socialization is the limiting factor is the lack of public knowledge of the system to change the current information system, and the lack of public response to a change. While supporting factor is the support of the central government, local, and community leaders in the socialization process petrified.

Effect of prepaid meters on the household expenditure on electricity consumption in Ondo state

Unfair high electricity billing is a challenge to consumers in Nigerian electricity market and it exerts undue pressure on households who are Charged for electricity service that are not supplied by service providers through estimated billing. Customers loss income as a result of this problem. Whether the introduction of prepaid meter will bring succor to consumers is an empirical issue. The hypothesis that adoption of prepaid meter reduces household expenditure on electricity consumption was tested in this study. A total of 577 (362 males and 215 females) participants were drawn from 4 local governments area of Ondo State using multistage sampling techniques. The participants had a mean age of 46.93 years and standard deviation of 21.04 years. The study was analyzed using frequency count, means and percentages. Results showed that 70.72% of the participants witnessed a reduction in their electricity expenditures as a result of adoption of prepaid meter plan which was attributed to elimination of estimated bills and users embracing electricity conservative strategies. More so, about 82% of the participants expressed their preference for prepayment electricity plan over old metering system. The implications of the finding is that the distribution companies should make more prepaid meters available as there is willingness on the part of electricity subscribers to buy into the metering plan.

Post-, pre- and non-payment: Conflicting rationalities in the digitalisation of energy access in Kibera, Nairobi

Energy infrastructures are on the cusp of digitalisation processes. This paper builds upon scholarship on prepaid meters and debates on conflicting rationalities within urban studies to provide a more nuanced examination of the ways in which different actors contribute to the deployment, appropriation and use of digital prepaid systems. We focus on Kibera, Nairobi, to examine Kenya Power's “rationality” for the deployment of the digitaltechnologies, and the ways in which actors incorporate social relations into these systems and negotiate them through these systems. Specifically, we consider the politicians, donors, residents of Kibera and informal power distributors. We show how upon the deployment of the digital systems in Kibera, residents and informal power distributors enact rationalities that conflict with those of the utility provider, donors and politicians. These conflicting rationalities make the formalisation of electricity provision in slum areas through “technological fixes” a particularly daunting task. Ultimately, we contend that this study of actors' conflicting rationalities in the deployment of digital prepaid electricity systems is an important contribution to studies of digital geography as it explains the complexities relating to digital interventions and offers critical perspectives on their hybrid outcomes and politics within contested urban geographies in the global South and elsewhere.

KUALITAS PELAYANAN PASANG BARU LISTRIK PRABAYAR DI PT PLN (PERSERO) UNIT LAYANAN PELANGGAN WOHA

The purpose of this study was to determine how the service quality of Prepaid Electricity Installations at PT PLN (Persero) WOHA Customer Service Unit. This type of research is descriptive, the data sources used are primary and secondary data. The research instrument used was a Likert scale questionnaire. The data collection techniques used were observation, interview, questionnaire, and literature study. The data analysis technique used is validity test, reliability test and one sample t test. The results showed that the service quality of prepaid electricity installations at PT. PLN Persero ULP. Woha more than 70% of expected (good).

Effects of increasing credit limit in digital microlending: A study of airtime lending in East Africa

AbstractThe recent decade has witnessed a significant increase in digital micro‐lending in Africa, boosted by the surge in popularity of mobile phones and, especially, mobile money. Starting with airtime and cash lending through mobile money, numerous other products are now offered, including prepaid electricity vouchers. However, these innovative loan products are often hampered by a lack of credit history from customers. Thus, lenders resort to issuing small loan amounts that are expanded as customers make timely repayments. Research from the credit card industry shows that increasing credit limits can lead to increased indebtedness and spending. Working with an airtime lender, this experimental study finds that people with increased credit limits behave similarly to credit cardholders, by increasing their borrowing. However, this increased borrowing negatively affects their repayment rate and long‐term usage of communication services. Additionally, customers' characteristics, such as their borrowing experience, influence their responses to increases in credit limits. Based on the results of this experimental study, we present key recommendations for digital micro‐lenders to minimize the potential negative impacts of increasing credit limits. We also discuss the use of randomized experiments as a research method in ICTD studies.

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR IN USING PREPAID ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PERIOD IN MAKASSAR CITY, INDONESIA

The Covid-19 pandemic throughout 2020, made many community activities carried out at home. Thus, people are believed to use a lot of electrical energy for activities at home. The government has implemented various efforts in order to save energy by the community. . However, the visible phenomenon is that the use of electrical energy in households is still high. This study aims to determine the behavior of prepaid electricity consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is carried out descriptively quantitatively, with a sample of 100 people through the snowball sampling technique. Collecting data through questionnaires and then tested using the Cochran Q-Test method. The results show that the behavior displayed by prepaid electricity consumers in consuming electricity during the Covid-19 pandemic is summarized as follows (1) Electricity is used to carry out activities at home, starting from gardening, in the kitchen, getting entertainment, studying, and working, 2) Electricity is used to support business opening shops during the Covid-19 pandemic, (3) The use of large electricity due to the large number of family members (4) The habit of forgetting to turn off electricity when leaving the house (5) Use of electricity to turn on the air conditioner all day longKeywords: consumer behavior, prepaid electricity, household sector, and the covid-19 pandemicJEL Classification: C42, D10, M00, O30DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.11403