In 2003, despite the huge investments made in order to combat the rampant energy theft to no avail, AMPLA, a subsidiary of the Spanish Endesa group, decided to make another attempt to master the situation: AMPLA evaluated two different technical solutions: first, to prevent illegal access to the distribution network and secondly, to implement a metering system which would be safe from fraud and could also allow remote communication.
For the distribution network solution, AMPLA designed a network called “DAT” where the low voltage cabling is raised to the same height as the medium voltage. Data concentrators, mounted on the 11 meter high masts, control up to 12 household meters. With the installation of the meters high up on the pole and protected by the medium voltage cabling illegal tapping becomes practically impossible.
For the distribution network solution, AMPLA designed a network called “DAT” where the low voltage cabling is raised to the same height as the medium voltage. Data concentrators, mounted on the 11 meter high masts, control up to 12 household meters. With the installation of the meters high up on the pole and protected by the medium voltage cabling illegal tapping becomes practically impossible.

