WO2012123790A1

WO2012123790A1 - An electricity supply management system and method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2012123790A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/052351
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sitaram Prasad PAIKRAY; Narainsamy SELVANATHAN
Original assignee: Paikray Sitaram Prasad; Selvanathan Narainsamy
Priority date: 2011-03-15
Filing date: 2011-05-29
Publication date: 2012-09-20

Abstract

Disclosed is system and method for managing the electricity supply to a plurality of electricity consumption sites, to each of which electricity is supplied, in use, by means of a mains electrical supply line. The system comprises a premises electricity supply meter that is adapted for installation at each of the electricity consumption sites, an area electricity supply meter for installation in a managed area that includes a number of electricity consumption sites, a theft detection system, and the premises meter at each electricity consumption.

Description

AN ELECTRICITY SUPPLY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] This invention relates to an electricity supply management system.

BACKGROUND

[002] A common method of electricity theft or pilferage is for a consumer, on metered premises, to connect high current draw devices, such as air conditioners, directly to the incoming electricity supply cables upstream of the meter *(on the supply side). This avoids those devices being metered and permits the consumer to maintain the appearance of legality whilst pilfering large amounts of electricity.

[003] It is an object of this invention to address the problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[004] According to this invention, a system is provided for managing the electricity supply to a plurality of electricity consumption sites to each of which electricity is supplied, in use, by means of a mains electrical supply line, the management system comprising: premises electricity supply meter that is adapted for installation at each of the electricity consumption sites., and area electricity supply meter for installation in a managed area that includes a number of electricity consumption sites; and a theft detection system.

[005] The premises meter at each electricity consumption site in the managed area being adapted for connection to the mains electrical supply line supplying electricity to that site and to record the amount of electricity supplied to that site; [006] The area meter being adapted for connection to the mains electrical supply line supplying electricity to all of the sites in the managed area, to record, at a point upstream of all the premises meters in the managed area, the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area, being the electricity supplied to the managed area by means of the mains supply line and to communicate with each of the premises meters in the managed area and to record the total recorded amount of electricity supplied to the managed area, being the sum total of all the recorded amounts recorded by all the premises meters in the managed area; and

[007] The theft detection system including: means to compare the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area with the total recorded amount of electricity supplied to the managed area; in respect of each electricity consumption in the managed area, a mains connection switch by means of which the mains electrical supply to that site may be switched and an electricity supply sensor adapted to detect the supply of electricity to that site; means to operate the mains connection switches to switch the mains electrical supply to the electricity consumption sites OFF if the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area exceeds the total recorded amount; means to raise an alarm in respect of an electricity consumption site that has been switched OFF and in respect of which the sensor detects the supply of electricity to that site.

[008] In the preferred form of the invention, the mains connections switches are located in or adjacent the premises meters and the electricity supply sensor in respect of each site is located between the area meter and the mains connection switch.

[009] The electricity supply sensor is respect of each site is preferably closely associated with the area meter.

[0010] The means to operate the mains connection switch in each of the premises meters is preferably a remotely operable switch by means of which the main electrical supply to that site may be switched remotely. [0011] The preferred means of communications for the management system is by way of power line communications (PLC) technology.

[0012] The invention includes a premises meter and an area meter that are adapted for use with the system of the invention.

[0013] In addition the invention includes a method for managing the electricity supply to a plurality of electricity consumption sites in a managed area, to each of which electricity is supplied, in use, by means of a mains electrical supply line, the method including the step of ;

[0014] Recording, by means of a premises electricity supply meter installed at each of the electricity consumption sites in the managed area, the amount of electricity supplied to that site.;

[0015] Recording, by means of an area meter connected to the mains electrical supply line supplying electricity to all of the sites in the managed area, at a point upstream of all the premises meters in the managed area, being the electricity supplied to the managed area by means of the main supply line;

[0016] Communicating with each of the premises meters in the managed area to record the total recorded amount of electricity supplied to the managed area, being the sum total of all recorded amounts recorded by all the premises meters in the managed area;

[0017] Comparing the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area with the total recorded amount of electricity supplied to the managed area;

[0018] Switching the main electrical supply to the electricity consumption sites OFF if the total among of electricity supplied to the managed area exceeds the total recorded amount; [0019] Monitoring, by means of an electricity supply sensor associated with each electricity consumption site, the supply of electricity to that site; and raising an alarm in respect of an electricity consumption site that has been switched OFF and in respect of which the sensor detects the supply of electricity to that site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of a simplified implementation of the management system of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] For a thorough understanding of the present invention, refer to the following detailed description, including the appended claims, in connection with the above-described drawings. Although, the present invention is described in connection with exemplary embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. On the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be reasonably included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0022] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0023] As used herein, the terms 'a', 'an', 'atleast' do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item, and 'a plurality' denotes the presence of more than one referenced items. [0024] According to an exemplary embodiment, electricity meters and metering systems have overcome a number of the strategies used by disingenuous consumers to defraud the meeting system.

[0025] One strategy however, that utilities suppliers have been unable to overcome, is the practice of connecting high current draw appliances upstream (on the supply side) of the meter and main switch.

[0026] In this method of electricity theft or pilferage, the consumer, on metered premises, will typically connect a high current draw device, such as an air conditioner or an industrial machine, directly to the incoming mains electricity supply line or cable at a point upstream of the meter and the main switch. This avoids those appliances being metered, which allows the consumer, when paying for the metered quantity only, to maintain the appearance of legality whilst pilfering large amounts of electricity.

[0027] This invention provides a management system 10 by means of which the electricity supply to a plurality of electricity consumption sites may be managed in a manner that seeks to overcome this method of electricity theft.

[0028] In a diagram illustrating the invention, each electricity consumption site is illustrated by means of a "house diagram" 12, but its is not intended thereby to limit the management system of the intention to use in domestic electricity reticulation systems. The sites 12 can be commercial or industrial sites.

[0029] Each sites 12 is supplied with electricity by means of a mains electrical supply line or cable 14

[0030] The house 12.1, 12.2 (to 12.n) in predetermined electricity supply area are managed as a group from a common distribution box (indicated by means of a dotted line 18). This area is referred to in this specification as "managed area". The number of such managed areas is not limited to the one area illustrated. [0031] A premises electricity supply meter 16.1, 16.2, (16.n) is installed at each site or housed 12. the premises meter 16 at each site or house 12 in the managed area is connected into the mains electrical supply line 14 supplying electricity to that site or house 12. the primary purpose of the meter 16 is to assist the site occupier or home owner to mange the purchase and use of electricity and to record the amount of electricity supplied to that house 12 by way of the meter 16.

[0032] Each premises meter 16 includes a main switch (not shown) by means of which the electrical supply to the site or house 12 may be switched OFF or ON.

[0033] The meters 16 are PLC enabled meters that are in communication with the electricity supplier (not shown) by means of power line communication PLC. The PLC connection enables the supplier to control the meter 16, including being able to switch the main switch ON or OFF remotely. In addition, the supplier is able to use the PLC communications link remotely to read the meter record of the amount of electricity supplied to that house 12 buy way of the meter 16

[0034] Premises meters 16 are normally installed in or closely adjacent the site or house 12. This makes it possible for the site occupier or home power to break into the mains electricity supply and unlawfully to install an appliance upstream of the meter 17 that is on the supply side of the meter, in the mains supply between the meter 16 and the distribution box 18.

[0035] The distribution box 18 includes an area electricity supply meter 20 that is connected to the mains electrical supply line 22 that supplies electricity to all of the houses in the managed area.

[0036] The area meter 20 is a PLC-enabled meter that is connected for communication to each of the premises meters 16 in the managed area. The PLC connection enables the area meter 20 remotely to read the meter record of the amount of electricity supplied to each house 12 by the way of its meter 16. In the physical arrangement of the reticulation system, the distribution box 18 is located remotely of the houses 12, between the meters 16 and the area mains supply. In such an arrangement, it will be difficult for any of owners or occupiers of the sites or houses 12 to connect any appliance into the mains upstream of the distribution box 18, which is distribution box 18 and the supplier, without such a connection being detected and removed.

[0037] The area meter 20 is connected into the area mains supply and adapted to record the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area. In addition, and being in PLC communications with the premises meters 16, the area meter20,is adapted to aggregate the recorded electricity supply meter readings of each of the premises meters 16 in the managed area, the aggregated amount being the sum total of all the recorded by all the premises meters 16 in the managed area at any time.

[0038] The distribution box 18 includes a theft detection system that is made up of a control box 24 and a plurality of sensors 26.

[0039] The control box 24 is PLC -enabled and adapted to communicate with the area meter 20. the control box 24 includes programmable logic means programmed to compare, either randomly or at predetermined times, the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area (as metered by the area meter 20) with the aggregated premises meter readings. Theses two totals should coincide

[0040] If the area supply total (as metered by the area meter 20) is greater than the aggregated premises meter readings, it can only mean that a premises meter 16 in at least one of the houses 12 in the managed area is under-recording the actual amount of electricity supplied on the mains supply line to that house 12 and that there is a diversion of electricity between the area meter 20 and the premises meter 16 of that house 12.

[0041] It is difficult to determine which of the houses 12 is diverting electricity in this manner. [0042] To this end, the theft detection system of the invention includes, in respect of each house 12, a sensor 26.1, 26.2 (to 26.n), which may be relatively simple current sensors, each attached to the mains supply line 14 to each site or house 12.

[0043] The current sensors 26 are located in or closely adjacent the control box 18 to ensure that it is not possible to bypass the sensors 26 on the mains supply lines 14. In such an arrangement, it would be difficult or impossible for any of owners or occupiers of the sites or houses 12 to connect any appliance into the mains upstream of the sensor 26, that is between the sensor 26 and the distribution box 18, without such connection being detected and removed.

[0044] The sensor detection threshold is set at around 2 Amp, at which amperage, such a sensor 26 will detect the current draw on the mains supply by even a small electrical appliance.

[0045] The current sensors 26 are each connected to an associated operational indicator switch in the control box 24 where the output from each sensor is applied to its associated indicator switch (not shown). The operational indicator switches are each constituted by a normally closed switch that is used to switch ON or activate a signal, such as a light, to indicate that electrical current is flowing in the mains line 14 connected to the sensor 26 associated with that indicator switch. For the indicator lights, small light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be used and illuminated to indicate the supply of electricity to the associated site or house 12. An array of such LEDs 28 is shown on the face of the control box 24.

[0046] If, for any reason, the current flow in the line 14 ceases, for instance when the mains supply to the house 12 is switched OFF by means of the premises meter 16, the current in the line 14 falls way and drops below the sensor detection threshold. As a result, the sensor output to its associated indicator switch drops to allow the normally closed switch to open, thereby switching OFF its associated indicator LED 28. [0047] In use, the theft detection system will first make the comparison referred to above - the system compares the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area with the aggregated premises meter readings.

[0048] If the total area (total area supply) exceeds the second total (aggregated premises meter readings), it means that the system is being defrauded in that more electricity is being supplied to the managed area than is being recorded at the premises meters 16 in the managed area.

[0049] The system is programmed, in such an event, automatically to operate the mains switches in the premises meters 16 of all the houses 12 in the managed area and preferably switches all the mains switches OFF simultaneously.

[0050] Theoretically, all the indicator LEDs 28 on the face of the control box 24 should now switch OFF, but because at least one of the mains supply lines 14 is still supplying electricity to a fraudulently connected appliance, the output of the sensor 26 connected to that supply line 14 will not drop out. The LED 28 associated with that sensor will therefore remain lit.

[0051] At the or each site or house 12where there is an electrical appliance connected to the mains supply line 14 in a manner intended to defraud the premises meter 16, the fraudulent connection will have to be between the meter 16 and the control box. Because the fraudulent connection is upstream (on the supply side) of the meter 16, the operation of the meter main switch does not disconnect that appliance from the mains and the appliance continues to draw current on the mains line 14 at the point where the line 14 exits the distribution box 18.

[0052] As a result, the sensor 26 associated with that line 14 detects the current and does not open its associated indicator switch. In consequence, the LED 28 associated with that switch remains ON, while all the sites 12 where there are no fraudulent connections, the LEDs will be OFF. [0053] The system thus clearly indicates which sites or houses 12 have unlawful connections.

[0054] The system can be programmed, in addition to merely indicating fraud by means of lights, to also communicate an alarm signal to the electricity supplier.

[0055] The system described above is relatively automated, but it will be appreciated that the system can also be operated manually.

[0056] So, for the instance, it might be possible to have the system set up so that a technician may simply go un- announced to a distribution box 18 to test for fraud in a particular managed area. At the distribution box 18, the technician can then perform the comparison step manually and take readings at the area meter 20

[0057] If the area supply total (as metered by the area meter20) is greater than the aggregated premises meter readings, it means that the system is being defrauded and the technician will then use the PLC communications capability of the meters 16, 20 to operate the mains switches in the premises meters 16 of all the houses 12 in the managed area and switch all the mains switches OFF. Because at least one of the mains supply lines 14 is still supplying electricity to a fraudulently connected appliance, the output of the sensor 26 connected to that supply line 14 will not drop out and the LED 28 associated with that sensor will therefore remain lit, clearly indicating to the technician which are the sites or houses where pilferage is taking place.

[0058] The Technician can then raise an alarm and take whatever other action is appropriate.

[0059] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions, substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for managing the electricity supply to a plurality of electricity consumption sites, to each of which electricity is supplied, in use, by means of a mains electrical supply line, the system comprising: a premises electricity supply meter that is adapted for installation at each of the electricity consumption sites; an area electricity supply meter for installation in a managed area that includes a number of electricity consumption sites; a theft detection system; and the premises meter at each electricity consumption, wherein the premises meter at each electricity consumption site in the managed are being adapted for connection to the mains electrical supply line supplying electricity to that site and to record the amount of electricity supplied to that site, wherein the area meter being adapted for connection to the mains electrical supply line supplying electricity to all of the sites in the managed area, to record, at a point upstream of all the premises meters in the managed area, the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area, being the electricity supplied to the managed area by means of the mains supply and to communicate with each of the premise meters in the managed area and to record the total recorded amount of electricity supplied to the managed area, being the um total of all the recorded amounts recorded by all the premises meters in the managed area, wherein the theft detection system including means to compare the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area with the total recorded amount of electricity supplied to the managed area; in respect of each electricity consumption site in the managed area, a mains connection switch by means of which the mains electrical supply the site may be switched and an electricity supply sensor adapted to detect the supply of electricity to that site, means to operate the mains connecting switches to switch the mains electrical supply to the electricity consumption sites OFF if the total amount of electricity supplied the managed area exceeds the total recorded amount, and means to monitor the electricity supply sensors; and means to raise an alarm in respect of an electricity consumption site that has been switched OFF and in respect of which the sensor detects the supply of electricity to that site.

2. A management system according to claim 1 in which the mains connection switches are located in of adjacent the premises meters.

3. A management system according the either of claims 2 or 3 in which the electricity supply sensor in respect of each site is located between the area meter and the mains connection switch in respect of that site.

4. A management system according to claim 3 in which the electricity supply sensor is closely associated with the area meter.

5. A management system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the means to operate the mains connection switch in each of the premises meters is a remotely operable switch by means of which the mains electrical supply to that site may be switched remotely.

6. A management system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the area and premises meters are adapted to communicate by means of power line communications.

7. A premises meter which is adapted for use with the system according to any of claims 1 to 6.

8. An area meter which is adapted for use with the system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A method for managing the electricity supply to a plurality of electricity consumption sites in a managed area, to each of which electricity supply line, the method including the steps of: recording, by means of a premises electricity supply meter connected to the mains electrical supply line supplying electricity to 11 of the sites in the managed area, at a point upstream of all the premises meters in the managed area, the total amount of electricity to that site; recording, by means of an area meter connected to the mains electrical supply line supplying electricity to all of the sites in the managed area, at point upstream of all the premises meters in the managed area, the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area, being the electricity supplied to the managed area by means of the mains supply line; communicating with each of the premises meters in the managed area to record the total recorded amount of electricity supplied to the managed area, being the sum total of all the recorded amounts recorded by all the premises meters in the managed area; comparing the total amount of electricity supplied to the managed area with the total recorded amount of electricity supplied to the managed area; switching the mains electrical supply to the electricity consumption sites OFF if the total amount of electricity supplied the managed area exceeds the total recorded amount; monitoring, by means of an electricity supply sensor associated with each electricity consumption site, the supply of electricity to that site; and raising an alarm in respect of an electricity consumption site that has been switched OFF and in respect of which the sensor detects the supply of electricity to that site.