Microcontroller Based System to Detect Power Theft by Using CT and PT

Abstract: Energy management and conservation have become crucial in today’s industrial landscape, as the cost of generating high-quality power continues to rise. Efficient energy usage not only ensures productivity but also keeps industries profitable and competitive. This paper addresses the critical issue of electricity theft that occurs along distribution lines. It introduces a method for detecting theft by comparing the total input power supplied to the distribution system with the cumulative power consumed by the individual customers. A discrepancy between these values indicates possible theft. The proposed system utilizes a microcontroller-based setup for theft detection, integrating current transformers and potential transformers to measure the power at both the input and consumer points. By calculating the difference between the two, the system can effectively identify whether power theft has occurred. Additionally, if any customer exceeds their sanctioned load, the system can trigger a warning message. In India, utility companies face substantial losses due to electricity theft, with estimates suggesting a loss of over a billion US dollars annually. This work aims to present an algorithm for an electricity theft monitoring system that enables the detection of violators from a remote location. The study starts by analyzing the various losses in electrical power systems, with a particular focus on electricity theft, which is the primary cause of these losses. Other factors like poor maintenance or calculation errors may also contribute but are less significant in comparison. The paper explores the different methods of electricity theft and discusses the design of a theft detection methodology using a backtracking algorithm. It also covers the communication of theft data from consumer premises to substations via existing power lines. The results and recommendations derived from the data collected are provided to offer a practical and effective approach to tackling electricity theft.