Metering and Revenue Protection: Strategies for Loss Prevention

Metering and Revenue Protection: Strategies for Loss Prevention.

Utilities around the world face significant revenue losses due to both technical and non-technical factors. Whether it’s electricity theft, equipment failure, or line losses, an estimated $200 billion in utility revenue is lost annually1. Let’s explore strategies to mitigate these losses:

Non-Technical Losses

  1. Electricity Theft:
  2. Utility Revenue Protection:
    • Revenue protection involves activities utilities take to prevent any loss of revenue. This can be through reports, field audits, or relying on other customers to call in when they notice something suspicious.
    • Some utilities offer rewards for customers who report electricity theft.

Technical Losses

  1. Equipment Failure:
    • Technical losses occur due to equipment malfunction or line losses. These losses impact grid stability, reliability, and consumer rates.
    • Having a good revenue protection plan means implementing a good testing program to ensure equipment is operating within its specifications. Field testing, shop testing, and period meter exchanges help keep equipment up to date.
    • Utilities are also looking at regular testing plans to help reduce revenue loss. Test equipment that utilizes Rogowski coils helps technicians test current transformers and determine if there are any losses due to malfunctioning equipment.
  2. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI):
    • AMI installations have revolutionized loss prevention. Unlike traditional mechanical meters, advanced meters can detect and alert utilities to tampering. They also ensure accurate billing, preventing revenue leakage.
    • AMI systems can alert utilities based on parameters like loss of phase, or voltage and current cross phase situations. This notification can be sent to technicians to investigate any problems that may be intermittent.

Future Strategies

  1. Technology and Analytics:
  2. Vulnerability Assessments:
    • Critical facilities should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify potential utility losses.
    • After an AMI system is installed a utility may not visit its meters for many years. This presents a vulnerability in revenue protection because utilities are not keeping an eye on their metering system. There could be meter tampering that is taking place that could go undetected.
  3. Routine Maintenance:
    • Regular checks on smart meters are essential to maintain their accuracy and reliability. Meter technicians use various tools, including computers for data integrity checks and test equipment. 
  4. Meter Inventory Tracking:
    • During an AMI installation, utilities exchange meters at every location. Keeping track of meter inventory helps utilities monitor progress and investment.
  5. Smart Meter Installation:
  6. Troubleshooting and Repairs:

In summary, metering and revenue protection are critical for utilities’ survival. By implementing advanced technologies, utilities can minimize losses, maintain reliable services, and safeguard their revenue streams.


References:

  1. Revenue Protection: Utilities Turn to Advanced Technology to Combat Revenue Losses1