Patna : The Patna Electric Supply Unit (PESU) is expanding the installation of distribution transformer (DT) meters and the tagging of electricity consumers to tackle power theft, identify technical losses and improve electricity supply across the capital.
According to figures reported on October 12, DT meters have been installed on 84.04% of PESU’s distribution transformers, while consumer tagging has been completed for 51.26% of electricity connections.
The system is intended to help officials monitor electricity consumption, detect unusual power losses and identify transformers operating under excessive loads. It is also expected to make it easier to notify consumers about planned or localised power cuts through SMS messages or mobile notifications.
DT Meters Installed On 7,754 Transformers
PESU has a total of 9,226 distribution transformers across its service area. Of these, 7,754 have been fitted with DT meters, leaving 1,472 transformers awaiting installation.
The meters will help officials remotely monitor the amount of electricity supplied through individual transformers. By comparing this figure with the combined consumption recorded by the meters of connected consumers, officials can identify discrepancies that may require further investigation.
PESU General Manager Dilip Kumar Singh said the remaining work would be completed soon.
Consumer Tagging Completed For 3.90 Lakh Connections
Consumer tagging links individual electricity connections to the relevant distribution transformer or feeder. This allows officials to identify which consumers receive power through a particular part of the network.
Of PESU’s 7,61,342 electricity consumers, tagging has been completed for 3,90,299. The remaining 3,71,043 consumers are yet to be tagged.
Once the process is complete, officials will be better placed to identify the consumers affected by a fault, maintenance work or a planned shutdown in a specific area.
How DT Meters Can Help Detect Electricity Losses
The combination of DT metering and consumer tagging will allow PESU to compare the electricity supplied by a transformer with the consumption recorded by its connected consumers.
For example, if a transformer supplies 1 lakh units of electricity but the connected consumers collectively record consumption of 80,000 units, the remaining 20,000-unit difference can be examined.
Such a gap does not automatically establish electricity theft. It may also result from technical losses, meter-related issues or other discrepancies. However, the comparison can help officials identify areas requiring closer inspection and determine the reasons for the loss.
The system is expected to make it easier to target inspections and take corrective action where irregularities are detected.
Transformer Overloading Can Be Monitored
High electricity demand, particularly during summer, can put additional pressure on distribution transformers. Excessive loading can contribute to equipment failures and interruptions in power supply.
DT meters will allow PESU to monitor transformer loads and identify units that may be operating beyond their intended capacity.
Officials can then assess whether a transformer needs a capacity upgrade or whether some of its load should be shifted to another part of the network.
These measures could help address low-voltage complaints, repeated tripping and transformer-related supply disruptions.
The highest electricity load recorded in Patna this year was 933.6 megawatts, highlighting the importance of monitoring demand across the distribution network.
Remote Monitoring And Mobile Outage Alerts
The DT meters use a modem-based communication system that can transmit readings remotely. This is expected to reduce the need for electricity personnel to visit each transformer simply to collect meter readings.
Remote access to consumption and load data can also help officials identify potential faults and monitor the network more efficiently.
Once consumer tagging is completed, PESU will be able to identify the connections linked to a particular transformer or feeder more easily. This information can support the delivery of SMS messages or mobile notifications about power cuts affecting specific areas.
Consumers could therefore receive advance information about scheduled maintenance or planned shutdowns, helping them organise their daily activities.
Focus On More Reliable Electricity Supply
PESU’s ongoing metering and tagging exercise is aimed at improving monitoring across Patna’s electricity distribution network.
With more transformers connected to remote monitoring and more consumers linked to the relevant network infrastructure, officials are expected to have better information about electricity losses, equipment loading and localised outages.
The effectiveness of the initiative will depend on completing the remaining installations and tagging work, accurately analysing the collected data and taking timely action on the problems identified.
