PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT
THE HAPUA WORKING GROUP NO. 3 – DISTRIBUTION
I. PROJECT TITLE : Project No.1 Non Technical Losses in Distribution System
II. PROJECT OVERVIEW
The HAPUA Working Group No. 3 acknowledged the challenges faced by all
utilities within the ASEAN countries on the “Non-Technical Losses-NTL” in the
distribution network
There is only one meeting on the topic held on 6-9 December 2004 in Chiang Mai,
Thailand, attended by 9 utilities from 8 countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam)
III. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
1.
To exchange information and experiences among ASEAN member countries
to upgrade the work performance related to NTL in distribution system
2.
To focus on efforts and measures in reducing the NTL, identification of root
causes of problems, common strategies and practices used to reduce the NTL
in distribution system.
3.
Information exchange on knowledge, practices and experiences of member
countries on the measures of NTL reduction and recommend a common policy
and strategy if applicable.
IV. PROJECT DELIVERABLES
Two main topics will be extracted from prior meetings regarding Non-Technical
Losses
 Cause of Non-Technical Losses
 Measures of Non-Technical Losses Reduction
Brunei Darussalem
•
•
•
•
•
Cambodia
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cause of NTL
Power theft through
unauthorised
connection.
Tampering of energy
kilowatt-meter
– Loosening of meterlink
– meter bypass
– Obstructing meter
disc’s movement by
using magnet,
candle wax and
other foreign
matters
Errors in meter reading
and recording
Defective meters
Improper estimation of
non-metered road
lighting’s consumption
Thief/ pilferage
Tampering with meter
seals
Breaking control wires;
illegal connection from
overhead line
Shorting control wires
Wrong multiplication
factors
Under billing by
providing the wrong
meter readings.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Measures of NTL
Monitoring of meter
tampering by
customers
Resealing of energy
kWh meter
Periodic inspection of
customer’s kWh meter
for any power thieving
activities
Immediate reporting of
defective meters from
meter readers is
required for immediate
action on meter’s
replacement
Energy audit on
consumer’s
consumption
Ameliorate the readings
Read the meters
correctly,
Reduce the error
reading,
Respect the meter
reading schedule,
Control the zero
consumption,
control the big
customers in the billing
process,
Look for frauds,
Reduction the number
of non-billed customers
Set up the commercial
performance contract
with the Customer
Services Agencies
2
Indonesia
•
•
•
•
Cause of NTL
Violation of Contract
Terms in the use of
electricity.
Illegal connection.
Inaccuracy of meter
reading resulting in
under billing.
Meter reading cycle.
•
•
•
•
Malaysia
•
Under-billing f Large
Power Customers
(LPC)
– Wrong meter data in
Customer
Information and
Billing System
(CIBS) e.g. wrong
multiplying factor
– Faulty of aged
meter (not detected
or no action taken)
– Wrong wiring
•
•
•
•
•
•
Measures of NTL
Automatic meter
reading
– Remote reading and
continues
monitoring
Meter reading
Management & control
– Meter reading using
Portable Data Entry
and Barcode on
every meter
– Cross checking
meter reading done
by outsourcers
Street Lighting
– Billing accuracy,
including non
meterized street
lighting
– Minimize illegal
street lighting
(convert to legal
meterized street
lighting)
Billboard
– Updating and
validating field data
– Check and confirm
Contract Term
Expired Date
Improve Large Power
Customers (LPC) billing
process
LPC physical checks on
meter installations
Ordinary Power
Customers (OPCs)
physical checks
Protect meters
Enhance Customer and
Information Billing
System (CIBS)
Conduct Raids
3
•
•
The Philippines
•
Cause of NTL
– Blown fuse (not
detected or no
action taken)
– Over or under sized
Current
Transformers
– Meter reading error
Theft by :
– Tempering of
current transformers
– Tampering of
potential
transformers
– Tampering of
meters
– Tampering of meter
fuses, panel etc.
– Tapping supply form
network
Unbilled Customers
The main cause of
Non-technical Loss in
the Philippines is
pilferage.
Method of pilferage:
– Meter by-pass
– Direct – tapping
– Meter tampering
– Use of control
devices to alter
motor registrations
– Controlled meter
readings
– Deliberate alteration
of meter wiring
connections
•
•
Measures of NTL
Install Remote Meter
Reading system
Improve detection of
high loss area
1. DETECTION and
APPREHENSION
• Expand Off Cycle
Reading Project to
address high tech
meter tampering,
controlled readings and
meter substitutions by
acquiring appropriate
tools (laptops/PDAs)
– Load profiling, error
codes detection and
diagnostic tests
extraction capability
of equipment
• Revisit GP Customers
• Enhancement of the
Meter Seal Tracking
System (MSTS)
• Intensify
implementation of Color
Coding of Meter Seals
4
Cause of NTL
The Philippines
(Cont.)
Singapore
•
•
Pilferage
Tampering
Measures of NTL
• Intensify
implementation of Color
Coding of Meter Seals
• Intensify actions on the
Kuryente Watch tips
• Pilot installation of AMR
for customers
• SBU Loss and Circuit
Loss Monitoring
2. DETERRENCE
• Legalization of ISC
Colonies
• Relocate/Improve
electric service facilities
in ISC colonies
• Intensify Security
Office’s efforts in
auditing
performance/anomalies
of contractors and
regular personnel
• Seek assistance from
government agencies in
apprehending and
prosecuting syndicates
involved in pilferage of
electricity
• Unauthorized energy
use by consumers
require constant spot
checks as well as low
consumption alarms
from the computerized
Customer Management
System.
• Where site visits
revealed cases of
tampered meter or
supply bypassed.
• Customer is notified
and informed of back
charge.
• Review cases are sent
to EMA for their followup.
5
Thailand
•
•
•
•
Cause of NTL
Pilferage
Tampering
Meter Reading Error
Unmetered Supply
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Vietnam
•
•
•
•
•
Inadequate
management of Power
Companies on
supervising and
managing energy
usage of customers
Poor perception of
customers in using
electricity.
Especially with high
electricity price > high
trend for stealing
energy
Meters installed inside
the customers’ houses
> beyond the
supervision of PC staffs
and difficult for
preventing and discover
the energy theft
Lack of severe penalty
for power theft.
Inadequate in meter
management, improper
in testing and
calibrating meters.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Measures of NTL
Reading and Observing
the meter failure (error)
Report the meter failure
(error)
Changing reader route
every three months
Audit sampling reader
quality every three
months
Evaluate the reader
quality
Meter reading by
outsourcing
Annually, Monthly and
Target group checking
for
suspect customer
Introduce Automatic
Meter Reading (AMR)
Installing meters at
transformer and
distribution lines for
identifying the high
losses areas
Establishing and
reinforcing the
inspection staffs
Collaborate closely with
local governmental
authorities. Impose
severe penalties for
energy theft.
Installing revenue
meters outside the
customers premises
Periodically checking
and replacing meters
and VTs, CTs
Implementing DSM
program (TOU, efficient
equipments, load
control, etc.)
6
Cause of NTL
Vietnam (Cont.)
•
•
Measures of NTL
Providing high accuracy
portable meter testing
equipments to meter
checking staffs
Reinforcing the
investigation and
verification of meter
reading tasks, applying
new technology (HHU,
AMR, electronic
meters, etc.)
V. PROJECT OUTCOMES
1.
2.
3.
Identified main causes of non-technical losses
The principal of measures, common strategies and practices to reduce nontechnical losses.
Conclusions and recommendations of NTL reduction.
VI. ISSUES
1.
2.
3.
4.
Main causes of non-technical loss in HAPUA members country are similar.
The significant causes of non-technical losses are “pilferage” and “tampering”.
Most HAPUA members have similar measures for non-technical losses
reduction.
Implementation of AMR would also reduce non-technical. However, the
implementation of the AMR is expensive and proper planning needs to be
adopted to achieve the economies of scale.
VI. LESSONS LEARNED
Exchanges and discussions in the meeting have benefited all country members
and all have learned from each other of the various measures used to reduce nontechnical losses. Although the problems faced by member countries vary,
members are now more aware of the strategy and methodology to make further
improvement in their respective countries.
7
VII. RECOMMENDATION
1.
2.
3.
Each country should review their various measures or techniques on the
appropriate implementation plans for NTL reduction.
Guideline for Non-technical losses should
be drawn up for a common
practice.
Each ASEAN member should report their result for NTL reduction to project
coordinator every year for further information exchange to benefit each
member country implementation regarding NTL.
8