Modeling of GSM-Based Energy Recharge Scheme for Prepaid Meter

Abstract

This paper presents the design and modeling of a GSM-based Energy Recharge System for prepaid metering. It is observed that one of the faulty subsystems contributing to the huge revenue loss in Nigerian Power Sector is the metering and billing system. Errors get introduced at every stage of energy billing, like: errors with electro-mechanical meters, human errors while noting down the meter reading; and error while processing the paid bills and the due bills. The remedy for this drawback is a prepaid energy billing. There are clear results from many countries, where prepaid system has reduced the revenue loss by a large amount. This paper models a GSM-based Energy Recharge Interface which contains a prepaid card equivalent to a mobile SIM card. The prepaid card communicates with the power utility using GSM communication network. Once the prepaid card is out of balance, the consumer load is disconnected from the utility supply by the latching Relay (contactor). The power utility can recharge the prepaid card remotely through GSM/SMS mode base on customer requests. GSM-Based Recharge System(GBRS) for single phase prepaid meter has been modeled and simulated in Matlab/Simulink environment. The results obtained shows good system performance. A prior billing is bound to do away with the problems of unpaid bills and human error in meter readings, thereby ensuring justified revenue for the utility.