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Internet-Based Electric Meter with Theft Detection, Theft Notification and Consumption Monitoring for Residential Power Lines Using Wireless Network Technology

Maria Criselda B. Loyola, Jhamel B. Bueno, and Roshmeir D. De Leon
Electrical Engineering Department, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Cabuyao City, Philippines

Abstract—In support of a proposed bill in the Philippines, the Recoverable System Loss Act, which aims to reduce the system losses cap thus making electricity cheaper, the objective of this project is to help the distribution utility and the consumer in decreasing the incidences of power theft. An electric meter which features theft detection and notification, and an internet-based energy consumption monitoring system were designed to alleviate the problem. Theft detection is achieved through the utilization of microcontrollers and current sensors, while theft notification is achieved through the utilization of LoRaWAN technology. The theft detection module can identify illegal tapping and meter bypassing. A star network of electric meters was implemented to test the LoRaWAN in an energy metering application. The theft detection and notification modules were 100% successful in identifying and transmitting the correct type of theft. The watt-hour measurement of the electric meter exhibited 99.9% accuracy in reference to a commissioned digital electric meter. In coordination with the electric meter, theft notifications and meter data were accessible to both the consumer and distribution utility through an online energy monitoring system: enermon.tech. The LoRaWAN gateway was able to receive theft notifications from an electric meter node as far as 601 m line of sight with an average round trip time of 33.09 milliseconds in the implemented area. This system provides immediate notification of the presence of pilferage for the distribution utility and consumer to address. 

 
Index Terms—electricity pilferage, illegal tapping, LoRaWAN, meter bypassing, non-technical system loss, wireless network

Cite: Maria Criselda B. Loyola, Jhamel B. Bueno, and Roshmeir D. De Leon, "Internet-Based Electric Meter with Theft Detection, Theft Notification and Consumption Monitoring for Residential Power Lines Using Wireless Network T," International Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering & Telecommunications,  Vol. 8, No. 5, pp. 238-246, September 2019. Doi: 10.18178/ijeetc.8.5.238-246