Bihar News : Smart meters in Bihar are no longer limited to recording electricity consumption and generating bills. Power companies are now analysing the data generated by these meters to identify power theft, misuse of connections and unusual consumption patterns.
According to the power company, around 10 billion data points have been collected so far. The data is also being used to develop strategies for electricity supply and demand management in the future.
Consumption After 9 PM Can Raise a Red Flag
According to power company officials, one common form of irregularity involves commercial establishments using electricity connections registered under the domestic category.
Smart meter data can help identify such cases by analysing consumption patterns.
Commercial establishments generally record higher electricity consumption between 6 PM and 9 PM, after which consumption tends to decline. In contrast, domestic consumers often record higher consumption after 9 PM.
If a domestic connection consistently shows an unusual consumption pattern, particularly very low consumption after 9 PM, the power company may send a team to inspect the premises. However, officials say that consumption data alone does not establish wrongdoing and a physical inspection is required to confirm any irregularity.
Transformer-Level Smart Meters Also Provide Data
Smart meters installed on distribution transformers are also providing valuable information to electricity companies.
These meters record the total amount of electricity supplied to a locality. The company can then compare this figure with the electricity consumption recorded through individual consumer meters.
If there is a significant gap between the electricity supplied by a transformer and the consumption recorded through consumer meters, officials analyse the data from individual smart meters in that area.
Consumers showing unusually low or suspicious consumption patterns can then be subjected to physical verification.
Smart Meters Installed in 9.3 Million Homes
According to the figures provided by the power company, smart meters have so far been installed in around 9.3 million domestic consumer premises in Bihar.
The state has approximately 22.5 million domestic electricity consumers, meaning a significant portion of households are yet to be covered.
Bihar is also reported to account for around 70% of the smart meters installed across the country, according to the figures cited by the power company.
Data Helping Plan Future Power Supply
Smart meter data is also helping power companies understand how quickly electricity consumption is increasing in different areas and how demand may evolve in the coming years.
Based on these consumption trends, electricity companies can plan future power generation, distribution capacity and supply requirements more effectively.
Thus, smart meters are increasingly becoming a key tool in Bihar not only for billing, but also for detecting potential irregularities, monitoring consumption patterns and planning the state’s future electricity supply infrastructure.
