Design and Simulation of Prepaid Energy Meter Using Microcontroller

Abstract

Energy meters in India have dominantly been electromechanical in nature but are regularly being replaced by more cultured and accurate digital and electronic meters. Considerable amount of revenue losses can be reduced by using prepaid energy meters. A prepaid energy meter enables power utilities to collect energy bills from the consumers prior to the usage of power by delivering only as much as what has been paid for. This dissertation suggests a prepaid energy meter behaving like a prepaid mobile phone. The meter contains a prepaid card analogous to mobile SIM card. The prepaid card communicates with the power utility using mobile communication infrastructure. Once the prepaid card is out of balance, the consumer load is disconnected from the utility supply by the contactor.