How an IoT Pioneer in Indonesia Revolutionized Cities with City-wide Smart Meter Initiatives

Miota is a pioneering company that has introduced IoT to Indonesia, unlocking its untapped potential. With an innovative approach, Miota offers end-to-end solutions and a smart ecosystem, establishing a first-of-its-kind initiative in the region. The company envisions creating a world-class IoT ecosystem and is dedicated to accelerating societal transformation towards smart living. By leveraging technology and implementing groundbreaking innovations, Miota aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals.

Muba Electric Power (MEP), a Regional Owned Enterprise located in Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra, faces critical challenges that demand the intervention of Miota and the implementation of a smart grid solution. The primary issues at hand are bad debt & collection, electricity loss, and management control.

Bad Debt & Collection

• At MEP, bad debt and collection problems have persisted since its inception in 2004. With a postpaid payment collection method and no secure payment system in place, over 50% of consumers failed to make timely payments. Excuses, resistance, and even violence hindered payment collection efforts, resulting in a meager success rate of around 50%.

Electricity Loss

• Electricity loss is a common and costly problem in MEP. Illegal connections and direct kWh meter tampering by unregistered customers lead to revenue loss without compensation. The geographical hurdles of rural areas, scattered households, and poor infrastructure intensify maintenance and collection tasks.

Fraudulent Practices

• Manual processes and a lack of a coherent management information system can lead to employee fraud. Billing discrepancies and unaccounted payments strain the company's financial health and erode trust. Ensuring transparent operations and reliable revenue management became an urgent need.

Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra, Indonesia

In a remote region of Sumatra Island, Indonesia, Miota is embarking on an ambitious project to integrate 50,000 households and offices by establishing direct communication between electric meters and the power provider. This undertaking focuses on a plantation and mining-focused area, where the utilization of advanced LoRaWAN technology becomes apparent as the ideal choice to facilitate this integration ecosystem.

The implemented ecosystem yields benefits for both power providers and consumers alike. Providers experience secured cash flow, automatic payment collection, increased revenue, and the ability to track electricity consumption effectively. Consumers, on the other hand, enjoy accurate billing information, an easy payment system, and the possibility to track their electricity usage.

Not limited to the electricity sector alone, RAK products also serve as a connectivity bridge in various industries, including gas and water distribution, automotive, and transportation.

For this project, Miota wisely selected the RAK7240 WisGate Edge Prime. With its reliable and flexible outdoor gateway network, featuring 8/16 channels, LTE module, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and an IP65 industrial-grade enclosure, the device perfectly caters to the specific requirements.

When it comes to client satisfaction, offering end-to-end solutions has gained significant popularity and demand. These comprehensive solutions bring convenience, handled by a proficient team of professionals who ensure a seamless and reassuring process.

An essential aspect of any solution lies in effective data management, analytics, and visualization systems. Miota's platform empowers clients with the ability to manage, support, and gain real-time data insights. Leveraging the generated data, valuable analytics are derived, complemented by machine learning techniques that classify information and ensure prompt decision-making responses sent back to the devices.

The complete solution, known as the Miota Power Grid, empowers both consumers and providers with seamless, secure, and efficient electricity management. Here's how it comes together:

• Changing the system from postpaid to prepaid;
• Changing the manual kWh meters to smart digital meters that are connected to the data center;
• Install transformer monitoring;
• Setting up the data center and operational dashboard;
• Preparing a customer mobile app that is connected to the bank through mobile payments;
• Call center application.

The system shift from a postpaid to a prepaid model, has prompted consumers to purchase electricity before consumption. This change eliminates the issue of bad debt entirely. With a user-friendly mobile app connected to the bank, consumers can conveniently make payments without the hassle of queuing at a counter.

Next, manual kWh meters are replaced with smart digital meters that connect seamlessly to the data center. Leveraging the power of LoRa connectivity, these meters enable two-way communication, allowing real-time monitoring of electricity consumption by both consumers and providers. Smart notifications are sent to users when their electricity is running low, ensuring they never face unexpected outages. Additionally, power providers can suspend electricity flow to consumers who haven't topped up their prepaid credit, eliminating instances of non-payment.

Transformer monitoring plays a crucial role in ensuring power quality and distribution balance. Miota's system continually monitors the power entering and leaving transformers, enabling insights into electricity distribution. Furthermore, it detects potential issues with transformers themselves, minimizing maintenance costs. By comparing output with consumer consumption, the system can identify any unauthorized connections or instances of electricity theft.

Central to the operation is an intuitive operational dashboard, providing real-time monitoring of technical processes, financial aspects, and consumer behavior. This comprehensive decision support system empowers providers to manage their electricity distribution with unparalleled efficiency.

The customer mobile app connects seamlessly with mobile payments, empowering consumers to purchase electricity wherever they may be. It offers daily insights into their electricity consumption, allowing them to manage their usage effectively within their budget. For round-the-clock customer support, Miota has developed a dedicated call center system. Integrated with the data center, it efficiently handles customer complaints, ensuring every interaction is tracked and resolved promptly. The entire system operates on cost-effective LoRa-based connectivity, minimizing connectivity expenses.