Prepaid Energy Meter using GSM Module

Electrical Engineering

The aim of the project is to minimize the queue at the energy meter billing counters and to restrict the usage of energy meter automatically, if the bill is not paid. The project also aims at proposing a system that will reduce the loss of power and revenue due to power thefts and other illegal activities. The work system adopts a totally new concept of “Prepaid Energy Meter”. The GSM technology is used so that the consumer would receive messages about the consumption of power (in watts) and if it reaches the minimum amount, it would automatically alert the consumer to recharge. This technology holds good for all electricity distribution companies, private communities, IT parks and self-containing housing projects. The implementation of this project will help in better energy management, conservation of energy and also in doing away with the unnecessary hassles over incorrect billing. The automated billing system will keep track of the real time consumption and will leave little scope for disagreement on consumption and billing.It is observed that one of the faulty subsystems contributing to the huge revenue loss in Nigerian Power Sector is the metering and billing system. Errors get introduced at every stage of energy billing, like: errors with electro-mechanical meters, human errors while noting down the meter reading; and error while processing the paid bills and the due bills. The remedy for this drawback is a prepaid energy billing. There are clear results from many countries, where prepaid system has reduced the revenue loss by a large amount. A GSM-based Energy Recharge Interface which contains a prepaid card equivalent to a mobile SIM card. The prepaid card communicates with the power utility using GSM communication network. Once the prepaid card is out of balance, the consumer load is disconnected from the utility supply by the latching Relay (contactor). The power utility can recharge the prepaid card remotely through GSM/SMS mode base on customer requests. The results obtained shows good system performance. A prior billing is bound to do away with the problems of unpaid bills and human error in meter readings, thereby ensuring justified revenue for the utility.

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