Metering is the Pivot of Power Distribution. To get it right we must first of all understand how it works and put the right plans and strategies in place in order to make it successful. Here we talked about what makes a metering System Work and the future of Metering.

1. How To Make A
Metering System
Work!
And What Still
Needs To Be Done
PRESENTED BY
ENGR. CANICE EMEKA
Engineering Manager EEDC.

2. Table of
Content
Metering System - Definitions
Cases where Prepaid Metering System Worked/Working
Why Smart Metering (Prepaid)
How do we make Prepaid Metering Work In Nigeria
Better Planning &
Management
Guide to Planning & Management
• Choosing a PPM vending platform
• Choosing an AMR System
• Choosing an Internet Service Provider
• Selection of Vendors & Vending Sites
• Staffing & Staff Training

3. Table of
Content
Cont.
Good Marketing
Campaign
Guide to Marketing Campaign
• Main Objective
• Choosing Advert Themes
• Regular Market Storm
• Customer Engagement
• Metering Revenue Protection
A Good Pragmatic
Policies
.Sample Theft Law from
state of Ohio United States
.Sample theft Law in India
.Sample License Periods
SCADA, GIS & Metering
Conclusion

4. Metering
System -
Definitions
Metering systems measure and record electricity conveyed through a point of
connection.
Advanced metering systems have the ability for two-way communication
between a meter and a remote system (using Automatic Meter Reading
Systems - AMR & Advanced Metering Infrastructure –AMI) also known as Smart
Metering System
Prepaid Smart Metering system is an advanced metering system that allows you
to pay for your energy before you use it.
Smart vs Prepaid: Smart/Intelligent is an enhanced Prepaid Meter with Auto
Disconnection - Reconnection Facility and various alerts management to Utility
as well as Customer.

5. Cases Where Prepaid Metering System Worked
Cape Town, South Africa @ Night
Reference case Study: South Africa. Special Focus: Cape Town

6. Cases Where Prepaid Metering System Worked
 27 years Head Start into Prepaid
Metering **
 Non-Technical Losses (Commercial
Losses) below 5%
 3.2 Million Prepaid meters installed
as at year 2000
 At list 1000 – 1500 Prepaid meters
installed every workday with
majority being new consumers.
100
54.4
97
11
23
100
18
81
36
54
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Mauritius Nigeria South Africa Burundi Tanzania
The disparity in connections and reliable
power supply in Africa as @ 2016 (%)* Nigeria
data 2018 –World-Bank
Share of population connected to national grid
Share of connections with reliable power
Case Study: South Africa. Special Focus: Cape Town
* Afro Barometer in a survey in 2016 quoted 96 % Share of Population connected to National Grid, But the reality is around 55-60%, while the reliability they quoted is more
likely truth. World Bank Data gave us 54.4 % as at 2018. ** Article in energy policy 2003.

7. EEDC Highlight
(Sample data from a District
in EEDC)
Description
 The data highlight in the next 2-slides shows
performance of a District in Enugu Electricity
Distribution Company.
 The data compares performance of the district Pre-
Metering period (2017) Vs Post Metering Period
(2019)
 About 70 – 75% of customers under the sample
district have been metered with a Prepaid Smart
meter

8. Smart Metering Coverage of Abakpa
District Customers (2017 Vs 2019)
10%
14%
17% 17% 18% 19% 19%
57%
59%
62%
65%
68%
70%
72%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL
2017 2019

9. EEDC Highlights (Pre-Metering (2017) Vs Post Metering (2019) -Monthly Avg. Data
13.8 14.0 14.2 14.4
2019
2017
Average Import
(M’U)
2019 2017
288.1
329.1
2017 2019
Avg. Collection Amount (M’N)
2017 2019
73%
93%
2017 2019
Avg. Collection Efficiency (%)
2017 2019
20.11
23.59
2017 2019
Avg. PIM (N)
2017 2019
46%
38%
2017 2019
Avg. ATC&C (%)
2017 2019

10. Why Smart
Metering
(Prepaid)
Payment Culture of Nigerian Electricity Consumers
Existing Metering Systems resulted in increase Debt Asset with
risk of losing at least 20% of it to Bad Debt
Rising Cost of Postpaid Billing inn terms of Wrong Billing, Low
Collection, Bill Distribution, Disconnection-Reconnection management
Customer dissatisfaction costing on image of Utility
Company
Smart Metering provides Better Social Image, Customer Satisfaction,
Lower Complaints, Focus on our Core Product: Supply of Energy
Initial Cost is compensated for by the long term
benefits

11. *Challenges of Metering
Regulatory:
Owner of Policy
Drafting
Considering and
Framing Practicable
policies
DISCOs
Management:
•Technical Innovations
•Expert Team
•Communication within
DISCOs
DISCOs
Operations:
•Early Grievance Redressal
•Reduce the time taken for
meter installation
•Reducing the Cost of
Metering Instrument
•Connectivity to Meter
•Regular analysis of
Metering Data
Customer:
•Awareness,
•Load Management,
•Less Complaints
•Socio-Economic
Impacts of better
Power

12. Challenges of
Smart
(Prepaid)
Metering In
Nigeria
Better Planning and Management by
DISCOs
Funding Facilities for DISCOs &
Customers
Marketing Campaign
A Good Pragmatic Policies

13. Better
Planning and
Management
Careful planning
is a must for
setting up a
successful Smart
Metering
system.
Careful planning
is a must for
setting up a
successful Smart
Metering
system.

14. Guide to
Planning and
Management
Choosing A Prepaid Vending Platform
Choosing an AMR System
Choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Selection of Vendors & Vending Sites
Staff Training

15. Choosing A
Prepaid
Vending
Platform
Procedures for Revenue collection
Pre-Deciding Potential Report Formats & Flexibility to
Change the Format and Data at ease.
Ease of Access & Dependable Technical Platform, Bulk
Data Monitoring
Maintenance Strategy
Reliability, Scalability & Accessibility of the Platform
for Data Management
Interaction with other software reading, billing and
collection platforms

16. Choosing an
AMR System
It should be scalable and robust to
accommodate disparate meters for easy
and comprehensive data collection and
management
Proper analysis of desired reports
should be done by Business Intelligence
or Meter Analysis Team

17. Sample AMR
Dashboard

18. Choosing an
Internet Service
Provider (ISP)
 Thorough feasibility study of the
different Areas of PPM installation
should be carried out to determine
the best ISP for the different Areas
as coverage strength in specific
Areas might differ from one ISP to
another.

19. ISP Importance

20. Selection of
Vendors &
Vending Sites
The point-of–sale image and the
personnel operating the
equipment must be trustworthy in
the eyes of customers.
The system must be
secure so that tokens
are not used by others.
The point of sale should be
available for vending during
the time periods convenient to
the customers.
The activity of buying
electricity (getting to the
vending sites, buying and
getting back) should not take
more than 30min.
Customers of any reasonable age should
be able to identify their meter and
specify purchase. Children should be the
main purchasers at the point of sale and
purchase is often a convenience purchase
(not specifically planned for buying
electricity and is like making errand of
buying telecom recharge cards at the
local stand or supermarket).

21. Staffing & Staff Training
Complete Training of How the Prepaid
System Works should be made available
to all staff levels including:
 Management
 System administrators
 Installation teams
 Maintenance teams
 Customer service staff
 Vendors
Staff Training is vital because an incompetent and corrupt Staff is the worst thing that can happen to any organization.

22. A Good Marketing
Campaign
The prepayment system is an
innovation in the electricity industry
especially in Africa and not well-
accepted yet.
This requires a good marketing
campaign.

23. Marketing Campaign
Main
Objective
Choosing
Advert
Themes
Market
Storm
Customer
Engagement
strategies to
encourage
Prepaid
Adoption
Possible
penetration
strategies for
Semi-Urban
and Rural areas

24. Main Objective The major purpose of marketing
campaign is to engender consumer
acceptance and appreciation in
both urban and rural areas.

25. Choosing
Advertising
Themes
In choosing advertising themes, flashpoints should be on the
reoccurring sentiments of customers on the use of postpaid
billing. Examples of themes explorable are;
‘‘Making your life easier’’
‘‘Electricity at your convenience’’
‘‘No more shocking bills/accounts’’
‘‘Putting you in control of your electricity costs’’
‘‘Pay as you go’’
“No More Disconnection & Reconnection Fee”
“No More Pressure to Pay Electricity Bills”
Marketing of the benefits of prepaid electricity requires
that consumers develop an appreciation of this facility.
Consumers need to be made aware of advantages of prepaid
electricity. The benefits of being in control of their budget is
the chief advantage of this system.

26. Regular Market Storm
 Regular Market Storm is one of the
best ways to carry out customer
engagement to enlighten customers
on
 Energy Saving Tips
 Various Recharge outlets,
Options & “How To” involving
Meter usage
 Answering Frequently asked
questions like “Why is my meter
running faster than that of my
neighbors.

27. Customer
Engagement
strategies to
encourage
Prepaid Adoption
Public meetings
Encouraging participation of local
community leaders.
Encouraging the demand by developing an
effective supply of prepaid electricity.
Emphasizing the benefits to the consumer

28. Metering
Revenue
Protection
Strategies
Quick Complaint Management
Effective Analytics Team
Well Trained & Equipped Meter
Monitoring Team
Regular Market Storm, Stringent
Penalties for Tampering of Meter

29. A Good Pragmatic Policy on Energy Theft
Sample Laws Guiding Electricity Theft (Ohio U.S.A)
Since August 1978, a revised Ohio law has covered theft of utility service and
tampering with utility equipment. The statute provides that a person does not
have to be seen tampering with their meter to be held responsible for such
action.
In addition, in prosecution for a user’s reconnecting a device that was
disconnected by a utility (illegal Re-connection), such activity now is considered
prima facie (at first sight ) evidence the user intended to defraud the utility.
The law defines theft of utility service as a first-degree misdemeanor if the
value of the stolen electricity, plus any utility equipment repair is less than $150
(N54k). It’s a fourth-degree felony if more than $150, or if the offender
previously was convicted of the charge.
Tampering carries similar penalties. It is defined as “to interfere with, damage
or bypass a utility meter, conduit or attachment with intent to impede the
correct registration of a meter or the proper function of a conduit or
attachment.” Conviction of tampering can mean from six months in jail and
a $1,000 (N360k) fine to five years and a $2,500 (N900k) fine. In addition,
persons convicted must pay for the value of the electricity stolen and for any
damaged equipment.

30. A Good Pragmatic Policy on Energy Theft
Sample Laws Guiding Electricity Theft (India)
Punishment
 Confinement – extends to three years, or
Fine – Applicable, or With Both of them.
 Conditions for Punishment and Fine: where the load abstracted,
consumed or used or attempted abstraction or attempted
consumption or attempted use-
 The Usage which equals to or is less than 10 kilowatts,
o On the account of First Conviction, the fine imposed shall be
equal to the three times (not less than 3 times) of the financial
gain due to the theft of electricity; and,
o On the account of the Subsequent or Second Conviction the fine
imposed shall be equal to the 6 times(not less than 6 times) of
the financial gain due to the theft of electricity; and,

31. A Good Pragmatic Policy on Energy Theft
Sample Laws Guiding Electricity Theft (India cont.)
Punishment Cont.
 The Usage which is of more than 10 kilowatts,
o On the Account of the First Conviction,
o Confinement:- No Confinement;
o Fine:- At least 3 times of the financial gain due to theft of
electricity; and,
o On the Account of Second or Subsequent conviction,
o Confinement:- At least for 6 months to 5 years; and,
o Fine:- At least 6 times of the financial gain on account of
such theft of electricity; and,
 If in the case of the second and subsequent conviction of a person
where the load Consumed is more than 10 kilowatt, such person shall
be debarred from getting supply or electricity for that period from
any other source or generating station, for at least 3 months to the
maximum period of two years.

32. A Good Pragmatic Policy on License Periods
Sample Electricity License Periods/ Franchising
 Delhi 25 Yrs.
 Torrent Power 20Yrs
 Mumbai 20 Yrs*
 CESC More than 20Yrs
*With several renewals

33. SCADA, GIS & METERING
 The Level of efficiency required in the
Advanced Metering Infrastructure –AMI
(which is an integrated system of smart meters,
communications networks, and data management systems that
enables two-way communication between utilities and
customers)
requires the corporation and Integration of
SCADA & GIS based Distribution Management
System (DMS) and Outage Management System
(OMS).

34. GIS, SCADA & METERING Cont.
The benefits of integrating SCADA
with DMS/OMS include:
 GIS provides pinpoint locations of
smart meters when both systems are
integrated and visualized on a
mapping interface.
 Consumption and tamper alarm data
received from the smart meters are
analyzed for actionable intel on
points of leakages or meter tampering
, computation and analysis of average
demand e.t.c
 Smart Meter integration with GIS
enables accurate calculation of
nontechnical losses per distribution
substation in a network. Real
consumption of the Distribution
substation is gathered from smart
meters and visualized on a GIS
Platform
SCADA
SAP Maintenance
Field Survey
CRM
Smart Meter
SM Alarm
SM Without power
SM modem search

35. GIS, SCADA & METERING Cont.
percentage Amount (kWH)

36. GIS, SCADA & METERING Cont.
 Supervisory control and data
acquisition (SCADA) systems
have traditionally played a
vital role by providing
utilities with valuable
knowledge and capabilities
that are key to a primary
business function
 Delivering power in a reliable
and safe manner.
 SCADA & GIS solves the
problem of detecting the
customer fault location in
real time and responding to
customer complaints at the
same time of the power
outage.

37. Conclusion
For a metering system to work we need to achieve
end to end metering (Import vs Export Point) &
Data Acquisition.
Robust AMR system with Reliability.
Meter Data Analysis drawn towards Billing Accuracy
and Energy Auditing. The insights to the data
obtained from metering is what makes a Metering
System.
Our Policies must be Realistic and Business
Oriented.

38. “Things get done only if the
data we gather can inform
and inspire those in a
position to make [a]
difference.”
– Mike Schmoker,
Thank you
Engr. Canice Emeka, Engineering Manager EEDC: 08038371670