EGSP: Enhanced Grid Sensor Placement Algorithm for Energy Theft Detection in Smart Grids

In a smart grid system, intelligent devices like smart meters are installed at consumer facilities and these devices are monitored, controlled and optimized from a centralized control center. Smart meters are the critical elements of smart grid systems. Smart meters provide end customer's real-time energy utilization to control centers. Smart meters are more exposed to cyber-attacks due to heavy usage of communication infrastructure in smart grid systems. Attackers can compromise smart meters and can change meter reading by injecting false data and hence steal energy. Energy theft is one of the critical problem because electric utilities loses lots of revenue every year due to energy theft. This paper proposes an enhanced grid sensor placement algorithm to place grid sensors in the distribution network to monitor and control the smart meters installed in the field. This algorithm provides efficient usage of grid sensors to improve energy theft detection.