Theft control of Electricity in Rural Area – Actual experience

Theft control of Electricity in Rural Area – Actual experience

SUDHIR KUMAR SRIVASTAV

AGM-RAPDRP

NTPC LIMITED, NEW DELHI

Sudhirksri1@gmail.com

Abstract -This paper gives an insight of, how to control, theft of electricity in rural area. Manual checking of unathorised used of electricity is very difficult in rural area, as distribution network is widely spread and manpower deployed by DISCOMS are insufficient. Here we are giving some practical experience that how theft was controlled by insulating LT conductor in a rural area.

Keywords: PVC Insulation (Polyvinyl chloride Insulation)

                   ACSR (Aluminum Conductor with steel reinforced)

                   LT Conductor (Low tension 440 V conductor)

                   KV (Kilo Volt)

                  

Location:   Kichha Town in Uttarakhand

Work involved:   PVC insulation of ACSR LT conductor in Katia/Kundi prone area.

Area Covered:     

·        Only 0.6 Km LT line of Kichha Town.

·        LT line is integral part of 11 KV Kichha Town Feeder. Length of 11 KV feeder was 3.5 Km and length of LT feeder was 7.65 Km.

·        So, less than 10% of LT line was considered for PVC insulation as test case.

Previous Practice: All the road side Jhuggi/Jhopri consumers were using Katia/Kundi connection for illegal use of electricity. As the connections were un-authorized & unmetered, unrestricted powers were used by consumers causing overload / damage of LT conductor as well as distribution transformer.

Reason of change: Most of the resident of the area were using electricity through illegal connection. Any administrative measure to remove Katia/Kundi connection lead to happen mass oppose / confrontation and poor law order situation.

Benefits: With PVC insulation on LT ACSR conductor, people are not able to use Katia/Kundi connection. So, they were automatically forced to take legal connection for use of electricity. All 302 consumers of the area applied for legal connection and were ledgerised. Now their power consumptions are being metered, so they are using restricted power. Overloading / damage of LT conductor and Distribution transformers were removed.

Cost/benefit analysis:

            Rate of insulation for bare conductor:     Rs.12/- per meter

            Total conductor got insulated:                  600x4=2400 mtr (Say 2.5 Km)

            Cost of insulating 2.5 Km conductor:      2500x12=Rs.30,000/-

            Cost of dismantle / erection:                     Rs.10,000/-

            Total expenditure incurred:                   Rs.40,000/-

            Number of consumers regularized:                                  302 (Say 300)

            Average consumption per month per consumer:             70 Kwh

            Increase in billed energy for 300 consumers:                 21000 KwH

            Increase in billed amount @ Rs.2.00 PU:                   Rs.42,000/- PM

           

Actual benefit observed on 11 KV feeder: (When only 10% length of LT feeder were considered as test case, benefit observed on total feeder as below)

    

Monitoring parameter	Before Insulation of LT conductor	After Insulation of 10% LT conductor
Metering Efficiency	79.21%	85.31%
Collection Efficiency	68.43%	71.95%
AT&C Loss	45.79%	38.62%

Conclusion: Above experience shows that with minimum effort & with minimum investment, theft can be controlled in rural area, resulting improvement in revenue collection as well as improvement is power supply position.

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