How to detect possible electricity pilferage?
We all know that system’s loss is composed primarily of technical loss and non-technical loss. Technical loss is the inherent property of all electrical devices during operation while non-technical losses are caused by electricity theft and/or metering inaccuracies. Technical loss can be determined through computations and the use of measuring devices. On the other hand, non-technical loss cannot be measured nor be computed; instead one has to have various methods just to detect such loss.
Various methods of detecting are used in identifying users who engaged in these criminal activities varying to the type of pilferage committed. Typically, there are three types of customers found in any distribution utility namely; residential, commercial, and industrial. These three types of customers’ uses different types of meters thus, different types of pilferage can also be done.
Of course, before your detect any pilferage one must first understand how stealing of electricity are done but unfortunately, due to some security reasons, this topic will not be discussed here instead, we are only going to give you the general idea.
The detection methods can be categorized into two; Physical detection and Detection through Customer Consumption. Although the latter can be subjective, this however will give you head’s up on what you are dealing with.
Physical Detection – is done by looking for traces of tampering in the utility’s meter seal, tampering in the service connection, tampering in the meter accuracy seal, foreign wires (used for direct tapping) not specified in construction standard, etc. Detection of pilferage merely by looking at the customer connection can be quite hard if it was concealed carefully and no traces can be found using the naked eye.
Customer Consumption – When a customer steals electricity, there is a high possibility that their regular consumption (as metered) will significantly drop. Also, one way of detecting a pilferage is when their recorded energy consumption is not proportional to the devices connected in their premises. This method is in no way 100% accurate but this can trigger investigation for the reason why their consumption dropped.