Detecting and Pricing Nontechnical Losses by Using Utility Power Meters in Electricity Distribution Grids

Abstract

Nontechnical losses or electricity theft has been a serious problem in many developing countries for a long time. Recent studies focus on theft detection methods to determine the actual location of electricity theft. However, even if utility services detect the exact location of electricity theft, they cannot prevent it due to distance and limited number of staff. This study presents an electricity theft detection method to determine and price nontechnical losses. The proposed method includes utility power meters throughout electric distribution lines. Thanks to utility power meters, even if dishonest consumers tamper with or bypass their own power meters, their electricity consumption is accurately recorded. Furthermore, the proposed method detects and prices the electricity theft which is occurred between electric poles. An electricity distribution grid is modeled in a Matlab Simulink simulation environment to test the proposed method. The results reveal that electricity theft events are detected with full accuracy and their charges are billed to consumers who live closest to the region where electricity theft occurs. The aim of the proposed method is to protect honest customers and deter dishonest ones from committing electricity theft. © 2019, The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers.