Anti-shunt theft energy meter terminal block

Abstract

In this paper we introduced a new type of terminal block of energy meter as a way to prevent energy theft for K-Electric. K-Electric is a vertically integrated utility based in Karachi, Pakistan responsible for all energy generation, transmission and distribution within the boundary of Karachi, Hub and Parts of Baluchistan. This piece of hardware is designed to overcome the flaw associated with the old terminal block which is being used in energy meters from decades. The first flaw of old energy meter terminal block is that it does not produce any hindrance to any adversary who attempts to tamper the meter. The second flaw is that the construction of the old terminal block contains many contact points i.e. 6 contact points for every phase in total, for single phase meter there are 12 contact points situated in the terminal block and for three phase meter the count rises to 24 contact points, any loose connection between any two contact parts results in the burning of energy meter. By tampering we refer to shunt type tampering, which is the most common method to make energy meter register less energy flow. There are further tampering techniques that are being carried out for registering fewer energy consumption by the utility. We carried a survey of data of a utility company that shows 16% of energy loss is due to shunt type tampering. Further in this study we also found that faults related to terminal block accounts up to 48% of total faults carried out by energy meter being on site. Precise energy accountability is every utility's key goal and objective. It is one of the major factors in evaluating efficiency of a utility like K-Electric. The challenges faced by the utility to reach its goal are exemplified by the unaccountable energy consumed by the public. This paper hence addresses a possible solution to prevent the economic and social losses associated with introduction of Smart Grids in Southern Pakistan.