GEPCO G3-PLC based AMI Pilot Project Insights
The principal problem affecting Pakistan’s power sector is the fact that power generation capacity has not been able to assimilate the demand growth causing shortages in electricity supply. This has led to a situation where load shedding and blackouts happen frequently. Consequently, consumers feel little motivation to pay bills when the service provided is highly sporadic, unpredictable and in some instances where estimated billing procedures are being used, the amount to be paid does not accurately reflect the quantity of electricity consumed. Consequently, evasion of bill payments can be commonplace, and DISCOs are unable to fully recover their costs, which, amongst other things, can be a major obstacle to their investment in upgrading the infrastructure and service provision.
KBK being the torchbearer in deploying smart metering networks, has the glory of executing Pakistan’s first state of the art G3-PLC based smart metering project in GEPCO.
Core Features of Project
- Accurate and on time bills
- Improve Customer/Utility Experience
- Optimize Distribution Network
- Better Demand Side Management
- Low Recurring and Operational Cost
Project Highlights
Both single phase and three phase whole current energy meters are installed under two transformers located in GEPCO’s jurisdiction since 2017 and communication hit rate is 100%. These remarkable results have ruled out the long-conversed suspicion over the practicality of PLC technology in Pakistan’s distribution network. It is also worth mentioning here that all these meters are installed without any supporting device i.e. filters, impedance matching etc. which further endures the robustness and capability of the system.
Another singular hallmark of KBK’s PLC system is the real time monitoring of line losses also under a transformer. Power utility companies can now monitor their both technical and non-technical losses under a transformer and locate high loss and theft areas to take in time action against culprits and save its revenue.
As PLC system provides the billing data on as low as hourly basis, it also reduces the billing cycle and manpower of DISCOs significantly. It is a competitive solution as compared to GPRS and has trifling recurring charges and can be implemented even in the low/zero GPRS coverage/remote locations. It also reduces DISCO’s leaning on telecommunication network.