EDP distribuição: Smart solutions against the theft of power equipments

Author

Cardoso, N. ; Carreira, Pedro J. G. ; Torres, P. ; Brinca, Orlando

Author_Institution

EDP Distribuicao, EDP Group, Lisbon, Portugal

fYear

213

fDate

10-13 June 213

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

4

Abstract

In the last decade the price of copper has quadrupled; in the last year it has doubled compared to previous years. This price increase has contributed to the growing market of used and scrap, with copper being an attractive market worldwide. The theft of copper is not a phenomenon confined to the Portuguese market. The rocketing international price of this raw material, in recent years, has boosted this crime all over the world. In Portugal, the theft of copper has already expanded to several regions and sectors of activity, but it is in the energy sector that its impact is more significant. The theft of overhead line copper conductors and other distribution network equipments containing copper has increased significantly between 2008 and 2011. Most of the increase has occurred in isolated and rural areas.

Keywords

copper; distribution networks; overhead line conductors; power system security; raw materials; smart power grids; EDP distribuicao; Portuguese market; distribution network equipment theft; energy sector; overhead line copper conductor theft; power equipment theft; raw material; smart grids;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

iet

Conference_Titel

Electricity Distribution (CIRED 2013), 22nd International Conference and Exhibition on

Conference_Location

Stockholm

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-84919-732-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1049/cp.2013.0790

Filename

6683393