CONCEPTS AND APPLICATION OF DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER
METERS
<RAJESH BANSAL>
<BSES, DELHI>
1. SYNOPSIS
Energy Meters can provide data for effective
management of Energy distribution systems.
Perhaps what is not widely known is that the
distribution transformer (DT) meter is the most
important meter in the entire distribution system.
These meters can serve as the ears and eyes of a
distribution system and provide a wide range of
management information provided they are
specified appropriately and an external
software/service is used for converting the meter
data into management information. DT meters
have a role far beyond energy accounting. They
can monitor the transformer loading and
unbalance, capacitor requirement of the LV
system, supply reliability and even provide a
record of the types of fault in LV system for which
the supply might not have tripped.
This paper covers the entire role of a DT meter
including the data logging features necessary to
provide the benefits. The paper also describes a
project initiated by BSES in Delhi, where such DT
meters have been used. The issues faced while
conceptualizing the project and how they have
been addressed, the progress of the project and
benefits are also presented in the paper.
2. INTRODUCTION
Energy meters are necessary in every part of a
distribution system and the Indian Power Sector
has felt the need for installation of meters on all
distribution transformers (DT) as a part of its drive
for 100% metering. Meters are primarily meant for
measuring the energy flow and the idea behind
installing meters on DTs is to find out how much
of energy has been sent out from the DT to the
group of consumers connected below a DT and
arrive at the loss for each DT. In this way high
loss DTs can be identified for corrective action. All
this is well known. Perhaps what is not widely
known is that meters on DTs can serve a much
wider role like monitoring the loading and
overloading of the DT, the degree of unbalance in
the DT and many other such measurements
which provide an insight into the operation and
maintenance of the LV distribution system. To
realize these benefits from a DT meter, it is
necessary to first visualize the DT meter as a data
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logger and then work out the data logging
requirements for obtaining these benefits.
3. ELECTRONIC METERS
Four important differences between an electronic
meter and electromechanical meter are that in
electronic meters have:
i. Memory - Log load survey data
ii. Multi-Parameters capabilities- Can
Measure and log multiple parameters
iii. Anti Tamper Features – Can Record
illogical electrical conditions or events
(called tampers)
iv. Communication- Extract the logged
data electronically
The most relevant, particularly in the context of
DT metering is the capability to log load survey
data for multiple parameters. Typically load survey
data logging is done at half hour intervals. That
is, the meters can log data for every half hour
interval. The data so logged by the meter is stored
in the meter memory and can be extracted in the
normal meter reading process by use of a hand
held device or CMRI1 or by AMR2. At the end of
a month when this data is extracted, the volume of
Data is so large that the user rarely makes use of
it in an effective manner.
The reason why the user rarely uses this data is
because
i. The data logging features asked by the
user from the meter supplier is rarely
purpose-oriented.
ii. The user looks at the energy meter as an
energy measuring device and gives
importance to only the energy data while
perhaps either ignoring or giving little
importance to everything else.
If the user does not use the data logged by a
meter, the meter is as good or as bad as any
conventional electromechanical meter of yester-
years which simply logged kWh. The benefit of an
electronic meter is therefore never fully realized.
1
CMRI is Common Meter Reading Instrument
2 AMR is Automatic Meter Reading. ( From Remote
Location).
Since the electronic meter has capability to log a vii. What is the number of times fuse has
large volume of data, it is worth visualizing an failed on the HT side of DT and how
electronic meter as essentially a ‘data logger’ that long has it taken to be restored?
also measures energy accurately. If one is able to
viii. What is the number of times the DT
look at an electronic meter from this perspective,
has been subjected to a jerk of
a whole range of applications come to view and
currents due to a downstream fault?
one is able to derive far greater benefits from an
electronic meter. ix. This fault has affected which phases
and what is the type of fault?
The user will surely desire different data logging
features for different applications because only x. And of course, what is the energy
through specialization one can obtain far greater sent out by the DT so that we find out
benefits. With this the meter is no longer ‘inter- the loss in the LV system, and loss in
changeable’ between different applications. That the HT system (between the 11 kV
is, the same meter cannot be used for both a DT feeders and groups of DTs
as well as for a consumer. A meter meant for a downstream.)
DT will have to be used only for DTs and a meter
Surely if we can find out the data logging needs to
meant for a consumer will have to be used only
obtain the above information, one can work out
for consumers. This is really not a restriction but a
the functional requirements for a DT meter. It may
specialization. This Special purpose
be seen from above that if at all the DT meter can
Customization fetches a greater benefit from
deliver the above management information; its
products.
utility is far beyond a simple energy meter.
The modern electronic meter, therefore is a
powerful data-logger that also measures energy. It 5. FUNCTIONAL FEATURES IN A DT
all depends how much of ‘power’ is punched into METER
this data-logger for different applications. With this
perspective, let us examine the need for a DT Let us work out the data logging requirements to
meter. obtain the above information:
5.1 Overloading of DT
4. NEED FOR DISTRIBUTION
TRANSFORMER METERING There are two parameters important to determine
the overloading effect on a DT. They are the peak
Let us first examine the general need for loading in kVA and duration for which the loading
monitoring performance of a DT and not merely has exceeded the nominal kVA rating (or any pre-
metering needs. Because, if we examine the decided percentage of its nominal rating). Hence,
needs for DT metering, all one can think of is logging the kVA for each ½ hour period is
simply measuring the kWh and may be kVARh but necessary for this purpose. This kVA can be
little else. obtained in case either kVA is logged, or in case
kW and kVAr (both) are logged. Logging kW and
If we imagine we are logging data for a DT
kVAr gives other benefits as well.
monitoring, we would surely be interested to find
out the following: Now, a DT may have different loading in its three
i. Is the DT overloaded, and if so, what
is the duration of overloading?
ii. What is the trend of overloading in the
DT so that upgradation can be
planned in time?
iii. Is the DT unbalanced, and if so what
is the measure of unbalance so that
the unbalance can be corrected?
iv. What is the neutral current on the
DT?
v. What is the minimum and maximum
reactive power drawn from the DT so phases. Hence, the information (i.e. kW & kVAr)
that fixed or switched capacitors can needs to be logged phase-wise. That is, kW R phase,
be planned? KW Y phase, kW B phase and kVArR phase , KVArY phase,
kVArB phase needs to be logged for each ½ hour
vi. What is the reliability of supply for the period.
DT in terms of hours of supply and
number of interruptions?

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Normally in load survey data of energy meters from the sample results in the very first month of
an average value is reported. That is, the kVAh monitoring of DT loads by BSES- Table 1.
for the ½ hour is logged and multiplied by 2 to
give the kVA load for the DT. This calculation can 5.2 Unbalance in DT
be misleading. What one is interested is to know Data logged by DT meters can provide an
the peak kVA of the DT that has occurred during indication of the degree of unbalance in the LV
the ½ hour interval. So, the phase-wise kW & loads connected to a DT. Conventional methods
kVAr logged by meter should correspond to the to balance the loads on a DT are to find out how
highest kVA occurring during the ½ hour interval. many consumers are connected to each phase,
measuring the phase wise currents during peak
By plotting the highest kVA for each ½ hour
load etc. None of these however can give
interval one obtains a kVA loading profile for the
information to balance the loads on a DT because
DT. Now, by rearranging the peak kVA values in
balancing the number of consumers may not lead
form of a load duration curve, one can know not
to balancing their loads, and unbalance during
only the highest kVA delivered by the DT but also
peak load may not be an indication of unbalance
the duration of overloading of DT, in steps of ½
for the entire day or month.
hour intervals. Had the ‘average kVA’ been logged
by the meter, it would not have been possible to
obtain information about the peak load on the DT.
Moreover, there are more advantages of logging
kW & kVAR at the peak kVA value (rather than
the average value) for each ½ hour interval, as we
shall presently see.

Bharat Petrol Pump Lodhi Rd.

Figure 3 Phase-wise current duration curves

More useful information is the phase wise current

duration curves, which give a measure of the
phase currents together with duration of time. In
addition to above a measure of phase wise
Figure 2 Trend of overloading unbalance (in %) can be obtained for each phase
by summating the weighted unbalance for each ½
Once the peak load & duration of overloading of a hour interval. This will give a value in terms of
transformer can be obtained, one can obtain the percentage like R phase 120%, Y phase 85% & B
month to month trend of loading and overloading. Phase 95%. Hence approximately 15% of loads
Advance action for planning upgradation for the should be shifted from R phase to Y phase and
DT can be obtained from this trend information. 5% of loads should be shifted from R phase to B
DTs phase.
DTs
DT DTs with having
No loaded load
having All this is possible if phase-wise currents are
neutral
Name loading logged by the DT for each ½ hour interval. Now,
of (80% to higher current
of less than
DTs 100% of than above
15% of
since the kW & kVAr is being logged, if one were
Circle read rated rated 10% of to also log the phase wise Voltages corresponding
rated
capacity capacity rated
capacity to the phase-wise kW & kVAr values, then one
current
can surely obtain (by computation) the phase-wise
South 1391 74 80 317 27 currents for each ½ hour interval.
Central 192 40 38 119 8
Hence, the data logging requirements for the DT
East 987 76 117 259 105 meter is load survey value for Voltage, kW and
West 787 66 63 115 76 kVAR for each phase during the peak kVA of each
Total 3357 256 298 810 206 ½ hour interval.
Table 1
5.3 Neutral current
It is not only the overloading, but also the under-
loading of DTs that is important in distribution Quite often it is assumed that the neutral current
system management. Very lightly loaded DTs are of a DT is small or negligible. This might not be
the cause of higher (avoidable) technical loss in a the case even if the currents in all three phases
system (because their no load loss figures are balanced. The neutral currents are caused
prominently). How this can be useful can be seen due to magnitude and power factor unbalance of
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the phase currents and can be (theoretically) as
high as the phase current itself.
If one is measuring the kVA, kW and kVAr for
each ½ hour period, one can obtain not only the
magnitude but the angle of the respective phase
currents. By vector addition of these phase
currents one can arrive at the neutral current of
the DT. When one does this, one may in for a
surprise because actually, the neutral currents in
many of the DTs are high and need corrective
action like balancing loads and improving the
earthing of transformers.
Figure 4 Neutral current of DT
As may be seen from above graph, the neutral
current of the DT is abnormally high and needs
corrective action.
5.4 Reactive power
Providing reactive correction for the distribution
network is often a concern for distribution utilities.
Assessing the capacitor requirement and the
capacitor placement is often done by complicated
software.
An easier option is to find out the base & peak
capacitor requirement for each DT from the kVAr
data logged by the DT meter. This is by far easier
and more reliable than theoretical computations.
The DT meter also provides this data.
5.5 Reliability of supply for the DT
Reliability of supply for a DT can be expressed as
no. of hours of supply and no. of interruptions of
supply to the DT.
Figure 5 Supply reliability for a DT
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This information can be obtained from the phase-
wise voltage recorded by the DT meter, as shown
in Fig 5.
5.6 Fuse failures (in HT side) and
restoration time
The voltage data can also be used to determine
the fuse failure (on HT side) and time taken by
maintenance team to restore the fuse. When the
fuse oin the HT side of a DT fails, then the sum of
voltage of other two phases is same as the
voltage of the healthy phase.
5.7 Faults on the LV side of a DT
The LV system is prone to the highest number of
faults in the entire power system. Unfortunately,
DTs have neither relays nor switchgear (except
fuses) in the LV side. As a result the fuse blows if
the fault is severe enough.
Figure 6 Illustrating HT side fuse failure & fuse
restoration
But most faults in the downstream of a DT are of a
temporary nature and are not that severe enough
to cause the fuse to blow. Now, since half hourly
data is being logged for the peak kVA conditions,
the faults in the LV system, even if they are of a
minor nature cause a surge in the DT load and
this surge is captured and logged by the DT meter
because it will surely correspond to the peak kVA
during a ½ hour interval. A unity PF surge will
indicate a resistive fault (like tree touching) and a
low PF surge will indicate a reactive fault like
flashovers and short circuits.
Whenever a fault happens, the voltage of the
concerned phase is reduced. Hence, if we were to
filter out the ½ hourly data for ½ hour intervals in
which voltage was normal and ½ hour intervals for
which voltage of any phase was less than (say)
160 Volts, one would obtain (a) the loading,
unbalance, neutral current, reactive demand etc.
for normal operating conditions and, (b) the
number of incidents during fault conditions. After
all, one expects the load on DT, neutral current
and phase unbalance to be temporarily high
during fault conditions and we do not want to mix
up this information with the normal operating
information of the DT.
5.8 Measurement of the energy drawn by
DT
Needless to say, measurement of the energy
(kWh) by the meter is of course a requirement.
Hence kWh needs to be measured by the DT for
each ½ hour interval. This energy can be used for
assessing the loss in the LV system and the loss
in the HT system (between the feeder and groups
of DTs).
6. FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR
DT METER
The functional specifications for obtaining the best
benefits from a DT meter are as follows
i. Half hourly logging of kW, kVAr and
Voltage (phase-wise) for peak kVA
conditions
ii. Half hourly logging of kWh (a single 3
phase value will suffice)
iii. Duration of power availability or
power outage (in minutes) during
each ½ hour interval
In addition to above event logging for power OFF
and power ON events is useful, and history
registers for monthly energy (kWh). Now with
above half hourly data logging, a data logging
period for 36 days (20% more than a month) or at
most 39 days (30% more than a month), is
sufficient.
7. DT METER PROJECT OF BSES, DELHI.
Using these above concepts BSES DISCOM at
Delhi have initiated a DT metering project of
installing meters on DTs in the areas covered by
BRPL and BYPL, to get DT metering MIS reports
for preventive and corrective actions. During the
initial study, we anticipated following challenges
and prepared our self for the same:
i. Supply of Meters as per desired
functional specifications.
ii. To install the Meters correctly, within
planned time frame.
iii. Inconvenience to consumer
problem of shut down.
iv. DT meter data base.
v. Timely Downloading, Processing and
Analyzing of DT meter data.
vi. Useful MIS reports with follow up for
corrective action.
vii. Maintenance of Meters.
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In general, we followed turnkey project approach.
We selected one vendor for meter supply,
installation quality check and Downloading,
Processing, Analyzing of DT meter data and
another vendor for DT meter installation and
maintenance of DT meters.
8. ISSUES DURING IMPLEMENTATION &
SOLUTIONS WORKED OUT
The issues faced during implementation were of a
very practical nature which may sound trivial on
paper but can become a concern in a feild. These
were as follows:
i. Location of DTs
ii. Correctness of wiring and installation
related problems
iii. Shut Down.
8.1 Location of DTs
Installation of meters on DTs is carried out by one
agency. It is necessary that information about the
location and rating of each DT is accurately
obtained and provided to the agency concerned.
This is not as easy a task as it perhaps sounds.
Every Division may accurately know where their
DTs are located but a reasonably accurate record
of the same can be difficult. This was one of the
difficulties initially faced by us because in the
absence of a detailed description where a DT is
located, the concerned agency lost time in finding
out the respective locations. To overcome this
problem, the installation agency was advised to
work in close coordination, if required to have
business agreement, with O&M maintenance
contractors. Parallel GIS Maps with unique
transformer code were provided to help in
identifying and monitoring of the progress. Further
close coordination between DT team and O&M
has resulted in installation of DT meter during
planned shutdown (during load shedding or
preventive maintenance of DT).
8.2 Correctness of wiring and installation
related problems
A number of practical problems were faced in the
installation, which could be detected once the
– meter was downloaded and analysed. The typical
problems were:
i. CT Reversal
ii. CT Short/ by pass (TTB link remain
closed)
iii. PT Missing or Loose Connection
iv. Phase Association
 v. Communication failure – Due to break the transformer, reliability of supply, occurrences
in communication cable or Com port of faults and response of maintenance team for
Damage repairing/replacing fuses, and of course the
energy and loss for the DT and loss for the 11 kV
feeder (up to DTs). To realize these benefits one
These problems however came to light after the
needs to look at the DT meter as a ‘data logger’
first set of readings from these DT meters were
making full use of the potential of electronics,
analysed.
rather than look at it as a ‘simplistic energy meter’.
At BSES, DT meters are installed at a height and Once this is realized, then the DT meters serve as
enclosed in a box. A small downloading box is the ears and eyes of a distribution system,
connected to meter for data downloading. In provided they are specified appropriately. Deriving
absence of a feature to read them, it is very likely MIS from the data logged by a DT meter is not at
that no one will read them regularly. In addition to all an easy task. A single meter logs a large
above any form of remote reading, like Low Power volume of data, and services of any dedicated
Radio (LPR) or GSM is useful because it will team or third party or professional agency who
facilitate in reading the meters. can read all meters regularly, analyse the data
and provide timely MIS may perhaps be
9. PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT necessary.
The DT meter project of meter installation has
started in March ’06, and by July end, we did
more than 90% metering. In August ’06, few
monthly reports were prepared. The main thrust at
present is to identify and correct the installation
problems and identify the group of DTs connected
to each 11 kV feeder. The latter is a difficult task,
particularly in view of the frequent changes in
network operating configurations. The next phase
will be to assess the loss for each DT by finding
out the consumption of all consumers connected
to each DT. Initially DT reports related to
distribution system health are highly appreciated
by user department and corrective actions based
on reports have already started.

Energy Audit Report

Data Base Report S/W Field Data

Feed back

Analysis Analysis
Report By User
By EA team

Corrective & Preventive

Action

CONCLUSION
A meter on a distribution transformer can provide
a range of information on the loading conditions of

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