[UC39] IPT and ICT Verification for Proper Billing

IPT (Instrument Potential Transformer) and ICT (Instrument Current Transformer) are types of transformers that are used to measure electrical energy in a power system. They are used to reduce the voltage/current in a high-voltage circuit to a level that can be safely measured by a low-voltage instrument or meter.

Verification of electricity meter measurements is the process of checking the accuracy of the readings provided by a meter. This is done to ensure that customers are billed correctly and that the meter works properly. There are a few different methods that can be used to verify meter measurements. One of them is the comparison test – the meter’s readings are compared to those of a reference meter, such as a different test instrument, to see if they match.

However, there may be cases where these IPTs and ICTs are incorrectly set and, therefore, may measure different consumption compared to the real consumption (e.g. half the consumption). This is not a random occurrence and can be seen in practice.

It is the responsibility of the utility to ensure accuracy and fair billing. If billing is not done correctly, the utility would risk reputational damage, possibly even lawsuits, or, on the other hand, would lose profits.