The University of Engineering and Technology’s Center For Intelligent And Secure Network Research (CISNR) launched Electricity Theft Solution with the name of “electrocure” at a launching ceremony the other day. Malik Asad, Chairman PESCO was the chief guest on the occasion. The ceremony was aimed to provide a platform for presenting the achieved electricity theft solution and discuss the economic aspects of electricity theft detection and prevention in the context of current situation in the power sector of Pakistan.
Malik Asad in his address appreciated the efforts of CISNR team and encouraged them to present solution to PESCO board so that sustainable and viable solution could be devised. He said out of 15000 MW we produce 10000 MW of power, and there is a shortfall of 3200 MW occurring due to theft and line losses as its major causes. He said PESCO has initiated a number of measures such as 600 KM insulated cable being laid in Peshawar and introducing digital meters, “but we would like to sit with University researchers for finding indigenous solutions to our local problems in future”, he said. He also urged to create awareness to the public through media on how to save electricity by better management of electricity use.
Dr. Gul Muhammad, Director CISNR said the center established in 2008 with the support of ICT R&D Fund has achieved tremendous results by filing three patents in the US and more than hundred research publications in impact factor journals. The smart grid concept “electrocure” he said, is a unique invention which would be able to cater 150 consumers at a time with advantages including transparent data acquisition, real time theft detection and control from public abuse, the real cause of electricity shortfall. ‘ This technology has introduced the idea of “harmonics” through which PESCO will be able to warn the abuser of “kunda” attempt through bills, identifying number of units misused and finally could destroy electronic appliances automatically if the abuser does not comply with warning system. On the other side, consumers would also know the actual electricity consumption of their appliances and could save their electricity costs.
Dr Gul urged the government to introduce right technology to overcome loop holes in existing setups rather introducing new energy sources for which integration and management systems are not in place. Dr. Ali Mehmud Co-Director CISNR, Waseem Hashmi, Manager ICT (R&D), Dr. Amjad Ali from PESCO also spoke to the occasion.
Source: The Frontier Post.
