Auri Studio’s Centus platform to combat power theft in Uganda

Auri Studio is set to unveil its Centus platform, aimed at curbing illegal electricity connections and enhancing grid monitoring across the country.

Prior to the handover to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), Umeme reported that Uganda loses more than Shs 100 billion annually due to power theft.

Kampala alone accounts for Shs 40 billion of this loss. The Centus platform incorporates both cloud computing solutions and custom hardware.

“We are designing hardware that not only monitors the grid but also performs control and detection functions. It enables distribution companies to make their systems more reliable,” said Gerald Baguma, technology manager at Auri Studio, during the current National Science Week at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

“With this, customers are more satisfied because power is consistently available. The platform allows distribution companies to identify faults as they occur and respond quickly,” he added.

Baguma noted that the platform also helps reduce operational costs by offering real-time fault detection and even predictive maintenance capabilities.

“We aim to collaborate with UEDCL to provide this supervisory control and data acquisition system, applicable to both substations and the broader electricity distribution grid,” he said.

“We’re about a year away from having a complete system ready. I guarantee that it will be affordable. We’re hopeful UEDCL and other microgrid operators will adopt it as a pilot, enabling faster national rollout,” he said.

The system monitors power flowing from distribution points, transformers, and feeders.

“We can correlate the power output from transformers with data extracted from Yaka (light) meters. Using power line communication, we communicate directly with the meters to collect this data. This allows us to calculate unaccounted-for power.”

Additionally, Baguma revealed that the platform includes proprietary algorithms capable of detecting the exact locations where electricity theft is occurring.