2013 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTING, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING (ICCEEE)
Prepaid Energy Meters Network via Power System
Communication
Kamal Ramadan Elfadil Zakaria
Electrical Engineering Dept. Electrical Engineering Dept.;SUST
University of Khartoum Khartoum, Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan Fzy17077@gmail.com
kamalramadan@yahoo.com
Abstract— this paper presents a new idea of designing a prepaid
energy meters that has the ability of being connected to a unified
centre (Energy Company). The process of connecting the meters
to a unified centre can facilitate the security, control and
maintenance purposes.
The mentioned network is economical because it is established
using the existing power lines instead of constructing a new wired
or wireless network. The data are transmitted over this network
using Power Line Communication (PLC) technology. A special
device is used to inject the data to the network and captures them
from the network; this device is the power line communication
modem.
A simple design of the network is done using two computers
and two modems (PLM) plus a program code. By using a modem
the program can take the measured data from the meter then
send them to the computer server and vice versa.
The designed network makes the energy company able to access
any prepaid energy meter in the unified area and control the
measurements of this meter; and as a result, stealing of electricity
can be prevented. Also company can communicate with the
consumer by sending text messages such as a serial number for
recharging the energy or alarm the consumer before the whole
amount of electricity is totally consumed. Moreover, this network
offers the ability of controlling the supply of energy such as switch
“On” or “Off” of the electricity supply.
Keywords: Energy meter, Energy Company, Modbus TCP/IP,
PLC, PLM, Prepaid meter.
I. INTRODUCTION
Prepaid energy meters technology is growing very fast
among the power system utilities and they began to replace the
existing technology of electro-mechanical meters. The scheme
of electricity billing system called “Prepaid Energy Meter
Network” can facilitate the cash flow management of utilities in
addition to viewing other electrical parameters such as voltage,
current, P.F., apparent power etc..
The traditional function of the prepaid energy meter device
which is recently used in Sudan is just to monitor the amount
of instantaneous energy for the customer to be aware before
the amount is over. The Sudan electrical distribution company
uses SCADA system with fiber cable beside the transmission
lines to monitor the instantaneous current, voltage and then the
amount of energy at any substation with no more
measurements because it has not enough capacity to contain
secondary distribution clients. So, if there is any illegal process
of stealing electricity or fault at any place in the secondary
978-1-4673-6232-0/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE 668
Dalia M. Eltigani
Electrical Engineering Dept.
International University of Africa
Khartoum, Sudan
daliamhmd@hotmail.com
distribution system, the company will have no idea because
there is no indicator to inform them automatically. Most of the
prepaid meters design methodology is Artificial Intelligent
(AI) based-using “knowledge-based” and “cognitive
simulation” approach. In view of the increasing demand of the
electricity and commercial losses, a new field of research and
development has emerged in the form of metering technology,
so that the objectives of metering technology are not limited
merely to measure the consumed units of the electricity but far
above. [1, 2, 3, and 4].
In this paper, the design of the prepaid energy meter
network via PLC is presented and described few possible
commercial and technical applications of this network.
Also, in this design TCP/IP protocols and MODBUS
protocols for managing the network traffic has been used
perfectly since they are simple and robust.
II. DESIGN OF PREPAID ENERGY METERS
NETWORK
A. System Integration
The system integration has been verified by modular design
technique which divides the entire system into individual
modules. Each module could be designed and implemented
individually. Because of the difficulty in obtaining a real
prepaid meter in the development and testing stage, the
LOVATO digital meter is used as energy meter.
B. System Scenario
Figure 1 represents the prepaid energy meter network
design which consists of four main parts, the energy meter
device which is LAVATO digital meter, the two PC one acts
as a server and the other as a client, and the power modems
(PLM1 & PLM2).
In this paper the digital multi-meter device is connected
to a bus-bar cable which supplies the Load (power laboratory
at faculty of engineering UofK) this meter measures many
parameters such as power, energy, power factor, etc.. One of
the PCs which represent the server (electricity company) is
connected to the other PC which represent a client (energy
meter) to resemble a small network through the existing power
lines using two power line modems one for each PC as shown
in figure 1. The Transmission control protocol/Internet
protocol TCP/IP communication protocol is used to connect
the two computers. TCP will set up a full-duplex
communication between the two applications. This full-duplex
communication will occupy the communication line between
the two computers until it is closed by one of the two
applications [1, 2].
Fig. 1. Prepaid Network Main Parts
C. Server Functions:
Functions of the server towards the client are:
1. Listens for connection from client.
2. Accepts connection.
3. Listens to incoming commands.
4. Reads commands.
Functions of the server towards the digital multi-meter are:
1. Connects to meter.
2. Sends request for data to meter.
3. Reads response.
4. Constructs and sends a response message back to client.
5. Waits for client connection to be closed then close the
connection.
Fig. 2 . LOVATO digital multi-meter DMK40
D. Client Functions:
5. Gets the IP address from the server.
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1. Establishes connection to server.
2. Sends request to server.
3. Waits for response.
4. Displays the data items given and closes connection to
server.
E. Hardware Tools:
1. The three phase supply cable which represent an input to
the energy meter.
2. LOVATO digital multi-meter DMK40 type, see fig.2
3. Convertor from RS-485 to RS-232 which allows
interfacing any device using an RS232 serial link to an
RS485 link. The convertor has a 9 pin DB9 connector of
which only 3 lines are used: TX, RX and Ground.
F. Server:
One of the computers PC1 is used as server which is
connected to multi-meter through Ethernet convertor. The
other PC2 used as client.
G. Power line Modems PLM:
Two PLMs are used; each PC has one connection to PLM
to make a network through the power line. In this design
Edimax HP-2001 AV, 100-240AC V, 50-60 Hz, Power Line
200Mbps Ethernet Adapter was chosen, see fig.3 [7].
Fig. 3. Power line modem EDimax
H. Software Tools:
Microsoft Visual C++ was used to develop console and
graphical user interface applications along with window forms
applications.
Modbus RTU was used in serial communication and make use
of a compact, binary representation of the data for protocol
communication.
I. Automatic Meter Reading Model (AMR)
AMR is the remote collection of consumption data from
customer’s utility meters over telecommunications radio,
power line and other links. In this design we used the power
line carrier since the power line is a property of the utility
company and its infrastructure is already there. The AMR
system consists of three major components: the meter interface
module, communication system and data concentrator [8, 9,
10, 11 and 12]see figure 4.
J. Design Implementation
1. Server Layout:
 This was build using Microsoft visual C++ 6.0 to achieve EDimax was setup. Each PLM device has its unique physical
all tasks of interfacing of the PCs and PLMs. A snapshot of IP address; the other PLM devices connected to this network
server interface for PLM is shown in figure 4 are appeared automatically after an auto-scan is finished.

3. Client Layout:
Using the same feature of Microsoft visual C++, a client
interface model was created to enable the user to deal with the
server in effective way. A snapshot of the client layout is
shown in figure 5. This interface is very flexible; it gives the
user many options, then according to the user’s needs the
settings can be modified in the main code.
4. PLM interface with the client:
The interface in figure 4 is same as the server PLM
Fig. 4. Prepaid energy meter network
block diagram interface; this device can see the server PLM automatically
when it has been connected to the network.
III. RESULTS
Using the server interface monitor PC1, a pre-specified
amount of energy has sent to the server PC2. This energy
appeared immediately at client interface monitor. When the
client’s energy reach a specified value the client receives a
warning message. Table 1 shows a sample for the result which
displayed at the client interface after the requested labeled data
was given. For getting many measurements in regulated
periods of the setting of GET PERIODIC DATA must be
applied. So the data can be taken from the log result file which
saves results from the beginning.

IV. IMPLEMENTATIONS OF RESUSLTS

From table 1, the three Lines voltages versus time which saved
in the log result file are implemented as in figure 6. Figure 7
represents the implementation of the three line currents versus
Fig. 4. Snapshot of Server interface for PLM
time. Figure 8 represents the three phase power versus time
using data from table 2. Figure 9 shows the energy versus time
and figure 10 shows the active, reactive and, apparent power
versus time.

Fig. 6. Line-to-line Volts vs time

Fig. 5. Snapshot of Server interface for Digital Meter PLM

2. Digital Meter PLM Layout:

Figure 5 and 4 illustrate the PLM interface window that V. ACTUAL TEST LOAD CALCULATION
appears on the server screen for the PLM device and the digital
meter, after software Configuration Utility for installing

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 By calculating the load which fed by supply cable, each
digital multi-meter device is set. This represents the client and
there is a remote PC which represents the utility centre. The
two devices connected through power line by PLM. The
calculated result is shown in table III.

Fig. 7. Line-to-line currents vs time

TABLE I. Sample for results displayed in the client interface

Time VRY VYB VBR IRY IYB IBR E P
H:M:S V V V A A A WH W
17:19:18 421 426 419 12.8 27.3 11.8 173.63 3140
17:19:49 421 426 419 12.8 27.4 11.7 173.63 2930
17:20:19 421 426 419 12.8 27.4 11.8 173.64 3100
17:20:50 421 426 419 12.9 27.4 11.9 173.64 2940
17:21:21 421 427 420 12.9 27.7 11.9 173.64 2890
17:21:51 421 426 420 12.9 27.7 11.9 173.64 3180
17:22:22 420 426 419 12.9 27.6 11.8 173.64 3030
17:22:53 421 426 419 12.9 27.7 11.9 173.65 3030
17:23:23 421 426 420 12.9 27.5 11.9 173.65 3030
17:23:54 422 427 420 12.9 27.7 11.9 173.65 3060
17:24:24 422 427 420 13.0 27.6 11.9 173.65 3080
17:24:55 422 428 421 12.9 27.6 11.8 173.66 2980
17:25:26 422 428 420 12.9 27.6 11.9 173.66 3120
17:25:56 422 428 420 12.9 27.6 11.9 173.66 3170
17:26:27 423 428 420 12.9 27.8 11.9 173.66 2900
17:26:57 423 429 421 12.9 27.7 12.0 173.67 3090
17:27:28 424 429 421 13.0 27.9 12.0 173.67 3040
17:27:59 424 428 421 12.9 28.0 11.9 173.67 2910
17:28:29 423 429 421 13.0 27.9 12.0 173.67 3140
17:29:00 423 428 421 13.0 28.0 12.0 173.68 3070
17:29:30 423 427 421 13.0 27.6 12.1 173.68 2920
17:30:01 423 427 421 12.9 27.6 12.0 173.68 3120

TABLE II. Sample for other parameters of result displayed in the client interface
Time PRN PYN PBN Q S
PFRN PFYN PFBN
H:M:S W W W VAR VA
17:19:18 110 5700 2660 0.01 0.84 0.93 1630 3530
17:19:49 20 5710 2580 0.03 0.84 0.91 1360 3410
17:20:19 120 5780 2720 0.01 0.84 0.92 1600 3450
17:20:50 80 5770 2700 0.04 0.84 0.93 1610 3530
17:21:21 110 5870 2660 0.03 0.84 0.93 1560 3400
17:21:51 90 5830 2700 0.04 0.84 0.94 1620 3650
17:22:22 150 5840 2590 0.05 0.85 0.90 1340 3370
17:22:53 140 5870 2600 0.02 0.85 0.92 1380 3370
17:23:23 70 5800 2630 0.02 0.84 0.89 1380 3240
17:23:54 0 5780 2660 0.01 0.84 0.93 1720 3510
17:24:24 30 5720 2740 0.01 0.84 0.93 1780 3510
17:24:55 130 5730 2620 0.02 0.84 0.91 1610 3450
17:25:26 0 5770 2740 0.02 0.84 0.90 1550 3380
17:25:56 40 5780 2740 0.01 0.85 0.91 1810 3620
17:26:27 0 5840 2650 0.01 0.84 0.92 1550 3290
17:26:57 20 5720 2740 0.01 0.83 0.94 1700 3670
17:27:28 80 5910 2710 0.00 0.83 0.94 1710 3490
17:27:59 30 5880 2650 0.01 0.84 0.91 1560 3310
17:28:29 130 5890 2710 0.03 0.83 0.94 1760 3710
17:29:00 30 5890 2720 0.04 0.85 0.89 1690 3390
17:29:30 10 5850 2680 0.03 0.85 0.92 1400 3400

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 Fig. 9. Import and Export power vs time Fig. 10. Active, reactive and apparent power vs time

Comparing the displayed data at the client interface

window with the actual data displayed at the meter monitor, it
was found that the values at the two sides are typical.
C. Output Result:
Considering the prepaid meter, it is found that when the
server (Energy Company) sends the requested amount of
energy, the client receives it correctly. Also the Energy
company officer can access the client meter at any time and
read its data and observes the flow of energy.
From the real-time data shown in the results, some features
can be noticed:
1. As in figure 6, it can be noticed that the relationship
Fig. 8. Three phase power vs time
between the line-to-line voltages and time (24 hour) is
TABLE III. Load Calculation typical to the standard graph which is the reverse of the
No. daily load cycle.
Power Total 2. Also by comparing the other curves of parameters versus
Section Device Of
W Power W time with the theoretical curves, the result was
units
Fluorescent acceptable.
4x4 20 320
Lamp VII. CONCLUSION
Office
A/C 1 1800 1800 In this paper we have successfully implemented the
Refrigerator 1 250 250 prepaid energy meter network via PLC for commercial,
Fluorescent security and technical applications to demonstrate the
11x4 20 880
Laboratory Lamp advantage of reading and viewing the electricity consumption,
A/C 2 1800 3600 indexes and recharging the prepaid meter. The design
Fluorescent implementation and result seems to be sufficient. The cost of
Class 7x4 20 560 implementing this network was found to be reasonable because
Lamp
room we used the existing power transmission lines to transmit the
A/C 2 1800 3600
Total Power Consumption 11,010 prescribed data. This paper can be considered as a significant
achievement to proof the possibility of using the existing
VI. DISCUSSION power transmission lines to transmit the data in addition to
After doing many tests, it was found that the interaction their main function which is transmitting the power. The client
between the user (client) and the server through a PLC can easily access the established network through any
network has a high efficiency, because the communication electrical socket without any difficulties.
between the two sides working at high rate in Mega bit per
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