SAVE KSEB
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:59 am
KSEB is dependent on Hydro projects and we all know that it hardly rained in kerala and kerala govt is yet to issue a lookout notice to Monsoon:) So now the topic is how we can save kerala from power crisis!!!!!
One major issue is protest against the construction of new generating station which seems to be a Herculean task.
Is power theft a broader issue which need more discussion and immediate actions?? I feel yes because we are selling our product - electricity - metered at consumer premises . Overriding a metered connection from a service post isn't a tough task for crude minded people who are part of every community. As of now our meter readers are doing their best to catch these people with best of their knowledge with out any sophisticated equipments to carry with them.
A large portion of a country’s revenue is lost due to the high density of tampering and security in electric meters. Hence it becomes very important to detect tampering in electric meters to ensue proper billing. Electric meter readers are trained to spot signs of tampering. The consumers who tamper with electric meter may be charged each billing period with the maximum rate until the tamper is removed, or in some cases the service may also be disconnected.
A common method of tampering with electric meters is by attaching magnets to the outside of the meter. These magnets prevent the alternating current from forming eddy currents in the rotor, by saturating the coils or current transformers. In kerala we still have these kind of meters and this practice might be still happening
Today, many modern meters can easily detect all of these effects. The owner of the meter normally secures the meter against tampering. Newer computerized meters usually have counter-measures against tampering. In order to find and fix power distribution problems, power companies today normally investigate discrepancies between the total billed and the total generated power.These investigations are an effective method of discovering tampering and security in metering.
A report says even Smart Metering also been hacked !! So its not an easy task to relay on the metering at consumer's premises. So its time to find out alternate and innovative methods!!
However, like computer and security systems, it is more likely that the makers of the technology will have to stay one step ahead of hackers to truly put a dent in energy theft!!
PS: At least we must change the old electronic meter
One major issue is protest against the construction of new generating station which seems to be a Herculean task.
Is power theft a broader issue which need more discussion and immediate actions?? I feel yes because we are selling our product - electricity - metered at consumer premises . Overriding a metered connection from a service post isn't a tough task for crude minded people who are part of every community. As of now our meter readers are doing their best to catch these people with best of their knowledge with out any sophisticated equipments to carry with them.
A large portion of a country’s revenue is lost due to the high density of tampering and security in electric meters. Hence it becomes very important to detect tampering in electric meters to ensue proper billing. Electric meter readers are trained to spot signs of tampering. The consumers who tamper with electric meter may be charged each billing period with the maximum rate until the tamper is removed, or in some cases the service may also be disconnected.
A common method of tampering with electric meters is by attaching magnets to the outside of the meter. These magnets prevent the alternating current from forming eddy currents in the rotor, by saturating the coils or current transformers. In kerala we still have these kind of meters and this practice might be still happening
Today, many modern meters can easily detect all of these effects. The owner of the meter normally secures the meter against tampering. Newer computerized meters usually have counter-measures against tampering. In order to find and fix power distribution problems, power companies today normally investigate discrepancies between the total billed and the total generated power.These investigations are an effective method of discovering tampering and security in metering.
A report says even Smart Metering also been hacked !! So its not an easy task to relay on the metering at consumer's premises. So its time to find out alternate and innovative methods!!
However, like computer and security systems, it is more likely that the makers of the technology will have to stay one step ahead of hackers to truly put a dent in energy theft!!
PS: At least we must change the old electronic meter