A framework of a smart system for prepaid electric metering scheme

In developing countries, the utilities are facing difficulties in collecting electric bill in full scale. Therefore, prepaid metering system is becoming popular for ensuring the collection of bill in advance. But it does not account for the unauthorized energy usage because those cannot be metered. In this paper, a framework of a smart system for prepaid electricity metering scheme has been developed. This is based on collection of electric energy data hierarchically from the consumer ends to the source end. Similarly commands for the meters are communicated from the source end to the consumer end. The objectives of this development are to control and monitor the prepaid meters and at the same time to localize the energy pilferage and thereby bring the unauthorized energy usages under accounting.