2015 International Conference on Energy Systems and Applications (ICESA 2015)
Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pune, India 30 Oct - 01 Nov, 2015
“ ZigBee Based Monitoring Theft Detection
and Automatic Electricity Meter Reading ”
Pandurang G.Kate
Department Of Electrical Engineering
Marathwada Institute Of Technology
Aurangabad,Maharashtra,India
pgkatepatil@gmail.com
. Jitendra.r.rana@gmail.com
Abstract- Now-a-days electricity meter reading
and billing is conducted manually by door-to-door
system. This system, as observed requires a large
amount of man power and is also the time & energy
consumption. To overcome the limitations of this
traditional system, proposal of a prototype module
which includes advanced wireless technology called
“ZIGBEE”. The proposed module helps to reduce the
time delay, errors and theft of electricity. The ZigBee is
preferred over other wireless technologies because it
works in unlicensed frequency band, it does not
requires high speed data rate, also this device is low
powered and low cost. The microcontroller based
system continuously monitors the reading and theft
detection that can be seen on the Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD) display.
Keywords- Electricity Theft; Liquid Crystal Display;
Microcontroller; ZigBee
1. Introduction
Today’s world is equipped with all the smart things in
every moment of life. Such as smart economy, smart
people, smart living, smart environment, smart cities, smart
phones, etc. To add to this smartness, we propose smart
electricity billing system & theft detection. Electricity is
the driving fuel for the development of any country. For
the country to be modernized its industrial sector should
grow rapidly[1]. To help this growth electricity plays a
vital role. The conventional method, means to generate the
electricity like thermal power generation and nuclear
power generation and non-conventional means like wind
power, hydro power, solar power, tidal power, etc. Central
and state government has to spend so much of the money
on generating and maintaining the electricity. Still so many
cases of electricity theft and improper billing system are
being recorded hence some actions are needful to
overcome this problems. In virtue of this, we use new
wireless technology like ZigBee to implement a module for
theft detection and proper electricity billing [2].
ZigBee is an IEEE 802.15.4 standard used basically
for communication with consumer devices in unlicensed
978-1-4673-6817-9/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE
Jitendra R.Rana
Electrical,Electronics & Power
Department,
Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College
Aurangabad,Maharashtra,India.
frequency band of 2.4 GHz ISM band. ZigBee has a
operating range of about 10m- 2km. ZigBee is low cost,
low powered wireless networking standard based on mesh
topology. This system is based on ZigBee technology.
Remote collection of unit count and sending bill on LCD
display panel is done by using Wireless electric meter.
This wireless system is used to overcome the theft of
electricity via by passing the energy meter and hence it
also controls the revenue losses and utility of electricity
authorized agencies wireless automatic meter reading
technology not only saves human power but also improves
the accuracy, efficiency and also we can have a remote
access of meter [3].
II. Literature Survey
The demand of electricity is much more than the
electricity being generated. In many countries either
developed or developing, its economic growth is hampered
by mismanagement of electricity generation, transmission
and distribution .
The scarcity and unpredictable supply of electricity are
somehow responsible for widespread theft. It becomes
very much difficult to identify individual offenders and
hence theft of electricity is easily accomplished. This
power theft leads to revenue losses of government, limiting
the government to manage the efficiently power system or
to invest in new power generation plants
In 2010, electricity losses in India during transmission and
distribution were about 24%, while losses because of case
of theft or deficiencies in bill will lead to 10-15% loss of
electricity. As per publication study India’s electricity theft
is nearly figure around loss of $4.5 billion over entire
nation. This led several states of India to enact and
implement regulatory, and institution al framework;
develop a new industry and market structure; and privatize
distribution
Now there is Indian electricity act raise in 1910 which has
a cognizable offence against electricity theft which will
insist stringent penalties to accused one. Also some
mandatory imprisonment and penalties under the separate
law raise by Indian government under which speedy trials
conducted by special court
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The most visible indication of electricity theft occurs when
users illegally tap in to the public sectors. In most of the
developing countries users tap in to the existing lines
without access to the electricity. These connections are
common and can be easily removed at the time of vigilance
squad visit. The illegal hookups are, obviously the largest
source of energy loss. This instead stems from two main
ways that energy is sent out but not paid: meter fraud and
unmetered use. The meter fraud is bribed to report the
inaccurate readings, thereby enhancing unpaid energy to
user. Meter tampering by using magnetic tapes is other
way to steal the energy. The other way of energy theft is
through excess unmetered use of electricity [4].
To face these challenges of electric power theft and
mismanagement we propose a system to catch the energy
theft and impose a automatic billing system.
III. System Development
1. ZigBee Module
In free frequency spectrum, data communication is done by
using a IEEE 802.15.4 ZIGBEE has low power
consumption with the large lifetime batteries. Network
security and application support devices provides by the
Medium Access control (MAC) and Physical layer
(PHY) .The different data traffic patterns could manage by
empowering scalable, self organised network enable by
suite of technology .
The different feature of ZigBee standard is low cost, low
power and mesh type wireless networks which has
advantage like deployment of technology in wide spectrum
of wireless control application, longer life with
requirement of less power to operate and high reliability
with large range of operation. The demand of various low
power devices of wireless networking is fulfil by
ZigBee[5].
Also for modern competitive market, ZigBee alliance with
IEEE providing integrated, flexible and complete network.
Also it serves the official test and certification for ZigBee
devices. It is the technology base standard that fulfils the
requirement of remote control, sensory and monitoring
application. by following the wireless mesh network
topology MAC and PHY [802.15.4 standard] achieve the
inter-operability over wide range of ZigBee module. It
operates under 2.4 GHz Industrial Scientific Medical
(ISM) band which available free over worldwide.
Figure 1. ZigBee Module [6]
Range of ZigBee is 10m to 2Km.Compatibility with the
network like Wi-Fi, Ethernet and GPRS is good and
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providing scalable networking solution makes it suitable to
use for monitoring and controlling application [6].
2. ATMEGA32 Microcontroller
In 1996 ATMEL developed 8bit RISC single chip
microcontroller of modified Harvard architecture. It is the
first microcontroller families which has on-chip flash
memory. Also AVR 32 bit RISC microprocessor
architecture designed by ATMEL. Its architecture designed
by Norwegian University of science and technology
including lead designer. It has feature of 32 KB of
programmable flash memory, 1KB EEPROM,2KB
SRAM,8 channel 10 bit A/D converter and JTAG interface
to provide on-chip debugging. Device operates at 4.5 to
5.5 volts with throughput of 16 MIPS at 16 MHz Also it
can achieve the lower power consumption, high processing
speed and throughput of 1 MIPS per MHz by executing
instruction in single clock pulse.
Table I. Key Parameters
Parameter Value
Flash (Kbytes) 32 Kbytes
Pin Count: 40
Max. Operating Freq. (MHz): 16 MHz
CPU: 8-bit AVR
Hardware Q Touch Acquisition: No
Max I/O Pins: 32
Ext Interrupts 3
USB Speed: No
USB Interface: No
3. LCD
The Liquid crystal display (LCD) is being used for
proposed system. 16×2 character LCD module is a very
basic module. Each character is displayed using 5×7 or
5×10 pixel matrix. 16×2 LCD can be interfaced with a
microcontroller in 8 Bit or 4 Bit mode.
4. Software Used
The microcontroller is programmed using Embedded C
language. The program is compiled using “Mikro C”
complier. The management side GUI is designed using
Visual Studio 2013.
5. Working
This prototype module can be divided into two segments:
a. Consumer Side (CS)
b. Electricity Board Side (EB)
a. Consumer Side
In the showing fig. 2 Consumer Side of module consists of
energy meter, microcontroller, LCD display, voltage
sensors, ZigBee Module and power supply unit. The
microcontroller continuously monitors the energy meter
reading and stealing of electricity. The theft is detected
when consumer tempers the meter by by-passing it.
 Figure 2. Block Diagram of Consumer Module

The fuses at either side of meter are directly connected

through a conducting wire hence the meter will be
completely bypassed that actuates voltage sensors. The
meter tampering signal is given to microcontroller through
NO YES
optocoupler. The ATMega 32 is directly interfaced with
ZigBee module. This theft signal is displayed on LCD
display on consumer side and transmitted to EB side via
ZigBee Transmitter. The LCD display indicates the energy
consumption in terms of unit consumed, power down, theft
detection, monthly bill in INR.

b. Electricity Board Side

In the showing fig. 3 Electricity Board Side (EB) can also
be called as management side. It includes ZigBee module
and Personal Computer System. This end displays units
consumed, theft status, and power status (ON/OFF),
current bill according to units consumed.
Figure 3. Block Diagram of EB Side Module
Monthly bill status will be send with help of “Send Bill”
button, Power switched to off for any theft detection with
help of “Cut Off” button and the power supply can be
restored back with “Restore Supply” button. This
communication takes place wirelessly via ZigBee module.
Figure 4. Flowchart
V. Result
The result can be stated in five modes;
a. After activation of both side modules, it indicates All
OK power ON indication in fig. 7.
b. Failure of power supply indicates Power Down
condition in both modules which is represented in Fig.8.
c. If tampering of electricity takes place via bypassing
Energy meter by the consumer, then theft detection
indication and Supply Cut-off Indication shown in Fig. 6
and Fig. 9 respectively.
d. Record of billing within certain period is done by bill
Sending message from management side module, which is
indicated is shown in Fig.10.
e. If bill is not paid within a certain period then EB side
can CUT-OFF the power supply of consumer.

IV. Flowchart
This flowchart fig.4 shows that how the system is used to
prevent the electricity theft i.e. firstly the microcontroller
ATMega 32 checks for the voltage sensors for electricity
theft, if any bypassing of the meter is found, voltage
sensors sends the signal to the microcontroller via
Optocoupler. This signal is then transmitted through
consumer side ZigBee module to the management side.
The theft detection message is displayed on both sides.
The management then cuts-off the power supply of the
user. After paying for necessary penalty the supply is
restored. For no bypassing of the meter the displays at both
sides shows “All OK” message. Figure 5. Working Module (Theft detection status)

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 Figure 6. Theft Detection (TX) Figure 9. Theft Detection (EB)

Figure 7. ALL OK Status (EB) Figure 10. Bill Send Status (EB)

VI. Conclusion

Today is era of modern technology everything is going to

be digital and wireless technology. In this era we are using
a traditional energy meter that needs more man power and
accuracy is less. Hence implementing this idea it is
possible to overcome the theft detection and help
government to minimize the losses. ZigBee wireless open
standard technology is being selected around the world as
the energy management and efficiency technology of
choice.

VII. Future Scope

1. Automatic meter reading and billing in water

Figure 8. Power Down Status (EB) management system.
2. Automatic meter reading and billing in LPG gas
management system in domestic housing society.
3. Notification via SMS or Email of billing or any
information related to power management system
(such as load shedding time table , power shut down)
provided by electricity authority .
4. Online billing system should be link up with this
system.

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 References

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Conference, Nov. 1998.
[2] I. H. Cavdar, “A Solution to Remote Detection of Illegal.
Electricity Usage via Power Line Communications”, IEEE
Transactions on power delivery, June2007Vol. 19.
[3] ZigBee Alliance, ZigBee Specification Version 1.0.
[4] Louis J. Romeo, “Electronic Theft Detection Systems: A
Survey”, Library & Archival Security, Volume 3, Issue 3 & 4
January 1982 ,
[5] Chun-sen XU,Xiang-jian CHEN, Di LI,”Automatic Electric
Meter Reading System Based on ZigBee” Pub.No.978-1-
4244-2108-4/08/$25.00 © 2008 IEEE
[6] Viredra Pandey, Simrat Singh Gill,”Wireless Electricity Theft
Detection System using Zigbee Technology”
IJRITCC,Volume 1,Isuue

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