Identification and ranking of customers with energy theft using hypothesis tests

Author(s)

Sau, Rodrigo F. G. ; Garcia, Tailan R. ; Trindade, Fernanda C. L. ; de Almeida, Madson C. ; Venkatesh, Bala

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Electric Power Systems Research; v. 225, p. 10-pg., 2023-09-19.

Abstract

Non-technical losses are an important issue for distribution utilities worldwide, and energy thefts are among their main causes. To mitigate this problem, utilities must detect and remove irregular connections from their networks. A traditional practice is to make local inspections guided by the results of artificial intelligence techniques relying on data from previous inspections and socio-economic features. However, the success rate still tends to be low and massive inspections of customers are expensive. Therefore, utilities require methods that improve their inspection success rate. In this context, this paper proposes a method to identify and rank non-technical losses in distribution systems. It uses a hypothesis test based on state estimation error distributions. By using the method, the probability of having a non-technical loss can be computed for every customer, which is improved by the method's repetition over time. By doing this, customers suspected of non-technical loss are ranked. Tests carried out on a real feeder have shown that the method is promising for locating multiple non-technical losses in low-voltage networks. In the tests, the minimum theft power to be identified is around 400 W. However, the location has good performance for power of 1 kW and above. Besides guiding utilities' inspection teams on non-technical loss detection, the proposal represents a way to benefit from advanced measurement infrastructure that has been installed in distribution networks worldwide. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/11380-5 - CPTEn - São Paulo Center for the Study of Energy Transition
• Grantee: Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Science Centers for Development
• FAPESP's process: 22/11517-3 - Proposal of aggregate steady-state distributed energy resource modeling
• Grantee: Fernanda Caseño Trindade Arioli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research