Difference between revisions of "Metering and Billing Systems"
From energypedia
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| − | = Billing<br> = | + | = Billing<br> = |
Organising electricity distribution requires to determine: | Organising electricity distribution requires to determine: | ||
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*how are the individual costs (tariffs) to be set | *how are the individual costs (tariffs) to be set | ||
| − | <u></u> | + | <u></u> |
<u>Different Tariffsystems are practicable at different conditions:</u> | <u>Different Tariffsystems are practicable at different conditions:</u> | ||
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*Pay per usage (requires metering) | *Pay per usage (requires metering) | ||
| − | <br> | + | <br> |
= Standard kWh meter = | = Standard kWh meter = | ||
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<u>Advantages</u> | <u>Advantages</u> | ||
| − | {| | + | {| width="200" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" align="right" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" |
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
| − | [[Image:Digital meter.jpg|thumb|right|Digital meter.jpg]] | + | [[Image:Digital meter.jpg|thumb|right|Digital meter.jpg]] |
| [[Image:Standard kWh meter.jpg|thumb|Standard kWh meter.jpg]] | | [[Image:Standard kWh meter.jpg|thumb|Standard kWh meter.jpg]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | *technique is "state of the art"<br> | + | *technique is "state of the art"<br> |
*billing is fair and transparent | *billing is fair and transparent | ||
*reading can be uncoupled from tariff collection | *reading can be uncoupled from tariff collection | ||
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*high costs (metering device) | *high costs (metering device) | ||
| − | *especially at rural areas in dev. countries the investment cost for a meter unit are way out of range<br> | + | *especially at rural areas in dev. countries the investment cost for a meter unit are way out of range<br> |
*dis- and re-connection in case of late payment | *dis- and re-connection in case of late payment | ||
| − | <br><br> | + | <br><br> |
= Pre-paid system with coins or cards = | = Pre-paid system with coins or cards = | ||
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*costs for re-collection of coins and selling system for coins/cards | *costs for re-collection of coins and selling system for coins/cards | ||
| − | <br> | + | <br> |
| − | = Current limiter / Fuses<br> = | + | = Current limiter / Fuses<br> = |
| − | {| | + | {| width="200" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" align="right" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" |
|- | |- | ||
| [[Image:Current limiter 2.jpg|100x96px|fault current breaker]] | | [[Image:Current limiter 2.jpg|100x96px|fault current breaker]] | ||
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*simultaneously protecting against overcurrent (actual purpose | *simultaneously protecting against overcurrent (actual purpose | ||
| − | *cheap if simple versions<br> | + | *cheap if simple versions<br> |
*no meter reading required => indirect power flat rate according to max. amperage | *no meter reading required => indirect power flat rate according to max. amperage | ||
<u>Disadvantages</u> | <u>Disadvantages</u> | ||
| − | *accuracy of cicuit breakers as load limiter fluctuates (even items from one batch have different trigger levels)<br>=> neigbours with same connections may be able to use different wattage<br> | + | *accuracy of cicuit breakers as load limiter fluctuates (even items from one batch have different trigger levels)<br>=> neigbours with same connections may be able to use different wattage<br> |
| − | *fault current breaker are rarely available in < 1 Ampere range (1 A / 220 V => 220 Watt)<br> | + | *fault current breaker are rarely available in < 1 Ampere range (1 A / 220 V => 220 Watt)<br> |
*time of usage not considered; less fair | *time of usage not considered; less fair | ||
*melting fuses are available and cheap but very easy to bridge (also temporarily) => encouage missuse<br> | *melting fuses are available and cheap but very easy to bridge (also temporarily) => encouage missuse<br> | ||
| − | <br><br> | + | <br><br> |
| − | = Flat rate / no metering / no limiting<br> = | + | = Flat rate / no metering / no limiting<br> = |
only in well organised small comunities a flat rate without limiting or metering will work. Consumers have to agree that everybody connected carries the same share of payment. If usage of electricity differs widely between the connected parties usually the "one tariff for all" is considered unfair. | only in well organised small comunities a flat rate without limiting or metering will work. Consumers have to agree that everybody connected carries the same share of payment. If usage of electricity differs widely between the connected parties usually the "one tariff for all" is considered unfair. | ||
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*very cheap (no metering or limiting device) | *very cheap (no metering or limiting device) | ||
| − | *in rural areas of Indonesia common and accepted as long lighting is the common/only usage<br> | + | *in rural areas of Indonesia common and accepted as long lighting is the common/only usage<br> |
*can be combined with number of appliances or installed wattage (social control) | *can be combined with number of appliances or installed wattage (social control) | ||
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*can be unfair | *can be unfair | ||
| − | <br> | + | <br> |
= Experience from Nepal : [[Category:Nepal|Innovative Metering]] = | = Experience from Nepal : [[Category:Nepal|Innovative Metering]] = | ||
Revision as of 10:13, 11 August 2011
Billing
Organising electricity distribution requires to determine:
- how much electricity is available
- how it is shared and limited
- how are the individual costs (tariffs) to be set
Different Tariffsystems are practicable at different conditions:
(see also at Costs_and_Tariff_Setting)
- Flat tariffs unlimited/limited
- Item based tariffs (pay per bulb/TV/Radio)
- Pay per usage (requires metering)
Standard kWh meter
Advantages
- technique is "state of the art"
- billing is fair and transparent
- reading can be uncoupled from tariff collection
- allows amount and time related tariffs (demand steering)
Disadvantages
- high costs (metering device)
- especially at rural areas in dev. countries the investment cost for a meter unit are way out of range
- dis- and re-connection in case of late payment
Pre-paid system with coins or cards
Advantages
- fair and transparent
- no meter reading
- no overdue costs
- no costs for dis- and re-connection
- close to “ability to pay”-variations
- coins less expensive than cards
Disadvantages
- relatively high cost for metering device
- less forgery proof
- costs for re-collection of coins and selling system for coins/cards
Current limiter / Fuses
|
|
.jpg){kind=small}
|
|
Advantages
- simultaneously protecting against overcurrent (actual purpose
- cheap if simple versions
- no meter reading required => indirect power flat rate according to max. amperage
Disadvantages
- accuracy of cicuit breakers as load limiter fluctuates (even items from one batch have different trigger levels)
=> neigbours with same connections may be able to use different wattage - fault current breaker are rarely available in < 1 Ampere range (1 A / 220 V => 220 Watt)
- time of usage not considered; less fair
- melting fuses are available and cheap but very easy to bridge (also temporarily) => encouage missuse
Flat rate / no metering / no limiting
only in well organised small comunities a flat rate without limiting or metering will work. Consumers have to agree that everybody connected carries the same share of payment. If usage of electricity differs widely between the connected parties usually the "one tariff for all" is considered unfair.
Often such settings work only untill the limit of the mhp is reached and power has to be rationated.
Advantages
- very cheap (no metering or limiting device)
- in rural areas of Indonesia common and accepted as long lighting is the common/only usage
- can be combined with number of appliances or installed wattage (social control)
Disadvantages
- provokes waste of electricity, no incentive for saving
- no load control / demand steering possible (peaks)
- can be unfair
Experience from Nepal :
