Technical and Non-Technical Losses in Single Phase Energy Metering

Electricity utilities around the world serve different types of consumers with different capacities. The majority of them are single phase consumers. Sri Lanka has six million single phase consumers whose consumption is measured with electromechanical energy meters. Hence it is important to evaluate the impact of the energy losses in single phase energy meters (herein after mentioned as meters) on the overall utility energy loss. In this research, losses in single phase energy meters were identified and analyzed using mathematical models. Two types of single-phase energy meters were considered- the presently used electromechanical meter and an electronic meter, separately assessed and losses compared. Mathematical models were developed to estimate losses in meters that depend on the load current and the power factor. Considering the typical load profiles of different consumer categories, losses were estimated for a sample of consumers in each category and then extended to the total consumer population. The research concluded that electronic energy meters perform significantly better than the presently installed electromechanical meters, and that owing to the inaccuracy of meters, electricity sold is underestimated by 0.53%. Further, by switching over to electronic meters, loss owing to the own consumption of meters, 0.28% of energy can be saved annually.