Electromechanical meter soon to be replaced

by Nilma Dole

[email protected]

As the electricity tariff structure is being redesigned, many electricity consumers look at the electricity meter for its accuracy into whether the meter reading serves its righteous purpose.

A panel discussion including Dr. Susantha Perera, Chairman of the Lanka Electrical Company PLC (LECO), consultant Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya and Professor of Moratuwa University Dr. Nalin Wickramarachchi at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the University of Moratuwa’s Engineering Faculty sparked off interest and inquiry about the effectiveness and accuracy of the household electricity meter.

It was revealed that the Minister of Power and Energy John Seneviratne had appointed an external committee to look into the advantages of using the electronic electricity meter. Many members of this particular committee were interviewed to prove that electronic meters are indeed the best option despite its not being used immensely by electricity consumers.

Investigating into this area, Dr. Narendra Silva, the Engineering Head of LECO noted “The electronic meter is fast becoming cheaper than the electromechanical meter because of the inexpensive metals and equipment needed to make it”. He highlighted that in order to run the electronic meter, the usage is about one watt but for an electromechanical meter, it is two and a half watts.

Further on he said “The electromechanical meter can be easily tampered with a magnetic force and other means but whereas in the case of an electronic meter, it is difficult to do so.” In addition to this, the human error factor and monthly visits by a meter reader is omitted when an electronic meter is used.

The CEO of LECO Susantha Perera commented “The theme revolving around the electromechanical electricity meter is that ‘If it isn’t broken, why fix it’? However, we should look into new technologies for it can help provide a solution for the losses that the CEB faces”.

LECO consumers have already wired most houses with electronic meters and those using it have reported many benefits. Dr. Perera said “We have just constructed a factory to produce electromechanical electricity meters because the problem is that the CEB will only buy such meters until they realise the benefits of the electronic meter.” Hence, they are hoping to be major suppliers of electromechanical meters with the purpose of introducing the electronic meters eventually after they gain market advantage.

Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya of the Resource Management Associate Limited who is also a consultant to the Ceylon Electricity Board was of the view that so far, the large corporations and big companies in Sri Lanka have been wired with electronic electricity meters which have proven reliable and safety.

However, he stated that very few domestic households are using this technology and if they do, it is for their own purpose because the CEB doesn’t provide that service.

Distinguished consultant Dr. Nalin Wickramarachchi of the University of Moratuwa’s Electrical Engineering Faculty stated “The world is changing over to the new technology which is required by law; so now we should transfer from the electromechanical meter to the electronic meter”.

He further said “Sri Lanka needs to develop its electronic sector to strengthen that base because we have the suppliers who will facilitate this enterprise”. With regard to our weather situation with a high incidence of lightning, the electronic meter is said to neutralises the electricity voltage thereby making it safe to use electricity even under these conditions, he added.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has a high number of consumers at a nearly 4 million with a 6 per cent growth every year. The General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board Pullaperuma stated that “We have already given LECO the responsibility of installing electronic meters in the near future however right now, the electromechanical meter works fine”.

He mentioned that it is not only electromechanical meters that could can be tampered with but it is so with electronic meters too. As for illegal connections, about 0.5 to 1 percent of the total electricity consuming population is alleged to be doing this and a campaign is already underway to bring those who tap electricity illegally to be brought to justice.

As electricity becomes a burning issue, we shouldn’t be in the dark about technological advances.