IPASJ International Journal of Electronics & Communication (IIJEC)

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEC/IIJEC.htm

A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijec@ipasj.org
Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2018 ISSN 2321-5984

Automatic wireless smart energy meter reading

system with theft detection
1
Ms.Deshmukh Anubha Bapu , 2Mrs.Vandana Malode
Department of ETC, Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College , Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

Abstract
Traditional meter reading for electricity consumption and billing is done by human operator from houses to houses and
building to building. This requires huge number of labour operators and long working hour to achieve complete area data
reading and billing. Human operator billing are cause to reading error as sometime the houses electric power meter is place in
a location where it is not easily accessible. The concept is to reduce the time delay. The power management system consists of
ZigBee Digital Power meters installed in every consumer unit and an Electricity e-Billing system at the energy provider side.
The ZigBee Digital Power meter (ZPM) utilizes the Wireless sensor network to send its power usage reading using information
back to the energy provider wirelessly. This wireless system is also used to overcome the theft of electricity via bypassing the
energy meter and hence it also controls the revenue losses and utility of the electricity authorized agency.
Keywords: Zigbee, e-billing, Zigbee Digital Power meter, Sensor Network, Ordinary Power Customers, Large power
Customers

1.INTRODUCTION:
ISM band. Base Station is composed of a Computer with ZigBee module.[1] It will take readings of Consumer node
wirelessly and send bill on Consumer node display. With the advancement of automation and network technology, the
implementation of automatic meter reading system (AMR) based on various communication mediums have been
acknowledged.[2] AMR system provides residents access to their consumption of water, gas and power meter remotely.
At the same time the management department can analyze these real- time and accuracy meter data in order to make
optimal resource distribution for future use. In recent years with the development of semiconductor and wireless
communication technology, it becomes possible to connecting many wireless devices with low cost and high link
reliability.[3] ZigBee is an emerging standard for low cost, low power and low data rate wireless network. One of the
operational frequency bands of ZigBee is the unlicensed 2.4GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band. The
Physical (PHY) and Medium Access Control (MAC) layers of ZigBee are defined by the IEEE802.15.4, and direct
sequence spread spectrum is employed[4]. In this system, a practical solution is presented for AMR systems based on
ZigBee networks which can solve the problems existing in AMR systems such as the real-time collecting, data latency
and reliable transmission from data acquisition terminals to concentrator. The theft of the electricity is the major
concern of the transmission and distribution losses in the supply of the electricity worldwide[5]. Mainly the electricity
is being stolen via bypassing the energy meter. Therefore this wireless system is utilized to overcome the theft of the
electricity. It is very beneficial for the authorized agency to control its revenue loss as all of us know that the cost of fuel
is increasing day by day. Hence the intensity of stealing the electricity and using it as a substitute is also increasing.
There are two types of techniques to deliver the information to the authorized agency to control the theft of the
electricity via bypassing the energy meter [6]
 Wired techniques
 Wireless techniques
In 2008, Malaysian Energy Commission has introduced a standard for electricity supply in order to enhance the
services in utility industries. Tenaga National Berhad (TNB) as a utility company which deal with electricity has to
follow this standard.[7].The complaints on electricity billing, metering, disconnection and reconnection of supply
recorded the highest percentage of total complaints on electricity supply services of TNB in 2008 . TNB have two
methods to take the metering data from their customers. For Large Power Customers (LPC), they used GSM-based
Automatic Meter Reading (AMR). But for their Ordinary Power Customer (OPC), they send a meter reader officer to
read the meter on monthly basis. When the meter is inaccessible due to several factors (weather, pets, customers not at
the site, etc), the meter reader will do the estimate reading [8].

2. Types of methods:
For remote energy metering and theft detections different techniques are used as described below:
1. By using zigbee technology

Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2018 Page 1

 IPASJ International Journal of Electronics & Communication (IIJEC)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEC/IIJEC.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijec@ipasj.org
Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2018 ISSN 2321-5984

2. GSM technology
3. Microcontroller based technology
4. Arduino based technology

The wireless technique using ZIGBEE technology is used to overcome or reduce the theft of electricity. This controls
the revenue losses and therefore by passing of the energy meter can be avoided. This system consists of mainly a Zigbee
module, energy meter and microcontroller. In this technique the theft of electricity is detected and hence stealing of
electricity which is done by bypassing the energy meter can be avoided due to which large amount of energy can be
conserved. In GSM based technology, GSM module is used in order to overcome the limitations of distance between
transmitter and receiver occurred in other techniques. Here Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology has proved
effective in which data reading is done automatically but sending and receiving data simultaneously is not performed in
GSM technique. In microcontroller based system the energy consumption units are displayed in the form of four digits
on display screen and further the information is stored in EEPROM memory. Once the supply is restored the meter
restarts again with previous stored value. The only drawback of microcontroller based system is that of distance
limitation since there is no use of communication networks such as GSM or Zigbee. The Arduino based system consists
of simple energy meter and a GSM modem. This system is a combination of arduino and a GSM modem where smart
meters send accurate and regular information of total energy consumed by consumer. This system works well only if
network strength is strong for proper working of GSM modem. In case of network issues it cannot receive signals
which may cause errors in calculation. Hence as compared to all above methods Zigbee technology is more effective as
it provides error free, accurate information of energy consumption. The only drawback is of distance limitation which
can be overcome by adding GSM modem to it for long distance communication.

3. PROPOSED MODEL:

Figure 1: Block Diagram of Consumer Module

Figure 2 : Block Diagram of EB side Module

Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2018 Page 2

 IPASJ International Journal of Electronics & Communication (IIJEC)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEC/IIJEC.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijec@ipasj.org
Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2018 ISSN 2321-5984

Consumer Side:This side of module consists of energy meter, microcontroller, LCD display, voltage sensors, ZigBee
Module and power supply unit. The microcontroller continuously monitors the energy meter reading and stealing of
electricity. The theft is detected when consumer tempers the meter by bypassing it. The fuses at either side of meter are
directly connected through a conducting wire hence the meter will be completely bypassed that actuates voltage sensors.
This theft signal is displayed on LCD display on consumer side and transmitted to EB side via ZigBee Transmitter. The
LCD display indicates the energy consumption in terms of unit consumed, power down, theft detection, monthly bill in
INR.
Electricity Board Side:The Electricity Board (EB) side can also be called as management side. It includes ZigBee
module and Personal Computer System. This end displays units consumed, theft status, and power status (ON/OFF),
current bill according to units consumed. Monthly bill status will be send with help of “Send Bill” button, Power
Switched to off for any theft detection with help of “Cut Off” button and the power supply can be restored back with
“Restore Supply” button. This communication takes place wirelessly via ZigBee module.
The system operation flowchart is shown in fig.3

Figure 3:System Operation

The system operation is illustrated in the flow chart above which shows that how to prevent the theft of electricity.
Firstly it add/removes the load from system and then checks meter reading units. Microcontroller continuously
monitors the system; if there is any theft then Zigbee modem sends message to management side and displays on screen
that theft is detected. After theft is detected then POWER is cut off by management side. Once power supply is cut off
the consumer is asked to pay the penalty. If there is no electricity theft then LCD displays OK message.

Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2018 Page 3

 IPASJ International Journal of Electronics & Communication (IIJEC)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEC/IIJEC.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijec@ipasj.org
Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2018 ISSN 2321-5984

What is Zigbee technology:

ZigBee is a standard-based network protocol supported solely by the ZigBee Alliance that uses the transport services of
the IEEE 802.15.4 network specification. ZigBee Alliance is a group of companies which maintain and publish ZigBee
standards. Nine companies in ZigBee Alliance are called promoters. They are Chipcon, BM Group, Ember, Free scale,
Honeywell, Mitsubishi, Motorola, Philips, and Samsung. ZigBee is intended for wireless application that requires low
data rate, low power consumption, low cost, and secure networking. ZigBee layered on top of IEEE 802.15.4 standard
which defines the physical (PHY) layer and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. ZigBee Alliance itself defines the
application and security layer specifications.

4. CONCLUSION
An automatic energy calculation through wireless smart meter using ZigBee communication is proposed. This reduces
the work of the office person to a great extend. It also reduces the difficulty faced by the people when readings are taken
manually. It simplifies the work of the electricity board in tripping the supply to a particular customer in case bill is not
paid. It also helps the customer in knowing about the due date for the payment of bill. Mainly the electricity is being
stolen via bypassing the energy meter therefore this wireless system can be utilized to overcome this type of the theft of
the electricity and is very beneficial for the authorized agency to control its revenue loss as all of us know that the cost
of fuel is increasing day by day.

5. FUTURE SCOPE
1.Notification via SMS or Email of billing or any information related to power management system (such as load
shedding time table , power shut down) provided by electricity authority .
2. Project work can be extended for net metering required for smart grid technology.
3. The similar system can be used in water management and LPG gas management system in domestic housing society.

REFERENCES
[1] Virendra Pandey1,Simrat Singh2, Amit Sharma3,“Wireless Electricity Theft Detection System Using Zigbee
Technology”, International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication, March-
2013 ISSN 2321-8169 Volume : 1 Issue:4-364-367.
[2] Shang-Wen, Jen-Hao Teng Member IEEE, Shun-Yu Chan, Lain-Hwang, “ Development of Smart Power Meter for
AMI Based on Zigbee Communication’’ National Science Council, Taiwan, under research grant NSC96-2221-E-
230-026-MY2,PEDS2009, pp-1-5
[3] Rajesh V.Sakhare,Partha Sarthi Das, “Electric Power Management Using Zigbee Wireless Sensor Network”,
International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology. IJAET ISSN:2231-1963, July 2012, pp. 1-5.
[4] Aryo H.Primicanta, Mohd Yunus Nayan , and Mohammad Awan, “ Zigbee-Based Automatic Meter Reading
System” International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer science and software engineering. Malaysia-
2008, pp-2-4
[5] Ms.Karthiga S, Mr. Vignesh S, Mr.Alex V.Stanislavous, Mr.Kiran Thomas. “Automatic Energy Calculation
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Networks, Vol3(2) 117-125.
[6] J. Nagi, K.S. Yap, S.K. Ahmed, and A.M. Mohammad, “Detection of Abnormalities and Electricity Theft using
Genetic support Vector Machines” Proc. IEEE, Hyderabad, India, pp.1-6
[7] T.B. Smith, “Electricity theft-comparative analysis”, Energy Policy, vol.32,pp. 2067-2076, Aug.2003
[8] Louis J. Romeo, “Electric Theft Detection Systems :A Survey”, Library & Aechival Security, Volume 3, Issue 3 &
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[9] I.H. Cavdar, “A Solution to Remote Detection of Illegal Electricity Usage via Power Line Communications”. IEEE
Transactions on power delivery, Vol.19, June 2007 pp-3-6
[10] A.H. Nizar and Z.Y. Dong, “Identification and detection of electricity customer behaviour Irregularities”,
Proc.IEEE PES, Mar.2009,pp-1-10.

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