ABSTRACT
This project research is focused on show-casing the means of monitoring the distribution of electrical power across local stations using computerized systems. It examines the concept of a computerized system and its importance in the manipulation of data to present useful and reliable information that will be used for decision-making. The research intends to find out a means of improving the operations of the EEDC, Awka, by carrying out an analysis on the present method of operation. Also, the study created a new system to replace the old manual system of operation using the results gotten from this research. The research collected information using different research techniques such as interview method, observation method and referencing method. The research collected materials from different texts, magazines and from the Internet.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page
Certification i
Approval Page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table of Content vii
CHAPTER ONE
- Introduction 1
1.1 Background of Study 1
1.2 Observation of the System 3
1.3 Scope of Study 3
1.4 Significance of Study 4
1.5 Statement of Problem 4
1.6 Limitations of Study 4
1.7 Definition of Terms 5
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review 7
CHAPTER THREE
- Methodology 12
3.2 System Analysis 16
3.3 Data Collection 17
3.4 Organization and its environment 18
3.5 Modus Operandi of the Present System 19
3.5.1 Input Analysis 19
3.5.2 Process Analysis 21
3.5.3 Output Analysis 21
3.5.4 Data Flow Diagram of the Present System 22
3.6 Problems of the Present System 23
3.7 The Proposed System 23
3.8 High Level Model of the Proposed System 24
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 System Design 25
4.1 Objectives Of The New System 25
4.2 Dataflow Diagram of the New System 25
4.2.4 Output Specification 26
4.3 Database Specification 28
4.4 Program Module Specification 29
4.5 Input and Output Specification 30
4.6 Algorithms 34
4.7 System Flowchart 35
4.8 Program Flowchart 36
4.9. Data Dictionary 41
4.10 Choice of Programming Language Platform 43
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 System Implementation and Documentation 45
5.1 System Implementation 45
5.2 Hardware Requirements 45
5.3 Software Requirements 46
5.4 Installation Arrangements 46
5.5 Testing 46
5.6 Training Arrangements 47
5.7 Conversion Arrangements 48
5.8 System Documentation 49
CHAPTER SIX
6.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations 51
6.1 Summary 51
6.2 Conclusion 51
6.3 Recommendation 52
REFERENCES 53
APPENDIX
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) and the Niger Dams Authority (NDA) were merged to become National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) by decree No.24 of 1972. The Authority was to develop and maintain an efficient, co-ordinate an economic system of electricity supply for all parts of the Federation. The Authority generates electricity through two major sources: Hydro and Thermal. The Hydro Power stations are Kainji Hydro Power station with capacity of 760MW, Jebba Hydro Power station with 578.4MW capacity, Shiroro Hydro Power Station 600MW. The Thermal Power stations are: Afam Thermal Power station with 696MW, Lagos thermal power station, Delta IV thermal Power station with 600MW and Sapele Thermal Power station 1020MW (EEDC, 2012).
However, the need to reform the Electricity industry necessitated the transformation of NEPA into Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2004.
The Electricity Reform Act of 2005, unbundled PHCN into 11 Distribution companies, 1 Transmission Company and 6 Generation companies. This Reform Act gave birth to Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). It was accorded the mandate to generate, transmit, distribute, and market electricity (EEDC, 2012).
It has on its own the task to develop and to maintain an efficient coordinated and economical system of electricity supply to all parts of Nigeria and other parts of West Africa like Benin republic, Ghana and Niger republics in the northern part of Nigeria. In the bid to meet with its statutory responsibility geared towards the satisfaction of its customers need worldwide constitute the establishment of the Alausa-Ikeja road office, has been functional over decades (EEDC, 2012).
Past, the system was not well efficient because the manipulations of the system were handled solely using humans’ operations which constituted different errors. In our time, it has become necessary to implement modern approaches to technology in order to manage activities of an organization.
In a world like ours today there is every need to manage funds in every activity being carried out. It is the concern of every firm to control its finances to ensure that unnecessary expenses are avoided. Financial management in a company has proved to be a great task involving the monitor of almost all departments of the company. As such, companies tend to be severe about the tools being used to manage these resources of theirs. This is because financial resources have to do with figures, calculations and computations which may present errors if not properly handled. To this end a computerized system will go a long way to sort many issues in managing financial affairs.
Monitoring power and issuing its bill is the job of Power Holding companies, and they intend to present this information to their customers/subscribers on time and precise. In Nigeria the situation is not different. EEDC, Awka has been on the job for decades now. The issue now is how is it being done and whether the method being used yields the best results? With the growing rate of technology in our world today the question is not far-fetched.
The use of manual means of manipulation of records has been proved to have different flaws attached to it so companies are gradually turning on to information technology for aid. Offices are no longer known for the piles of paper and files that it usually had. Rather it is made of devices that make up an automated office system, devices like, desktops, laptops, printers, scanners, etc.
A computerized system involves the use of computer devices and connections to achieve tasks in a corporate environment. Using this type of system to manage activities will help solve problems of familiar problems being presented by manual systems.
This research project is focused on showing how a computerized system can be modeled to monitor power outage and present bills for it. It studies the characteristics of a computerized system and its components.
- Statement of the Problems
For a system to require some modification or replacement or enhancement, there must be some existing problems associated with the old or existing system that prompted to it. This organization faces numerous problems due to the manual methods of recording which may include:
- Time wastage: Customers are entrapped in long interminable queues at the billing sections due to the manual mode of payment. In light of this, payment of bills turns out to be hard nut to crack for customers.
- It is very cumbersome for EEDC Officials to manually reconcile all customer information from different files sources into their work sheet.
- The control system is time consuming, less accurate and less efficient.
- Loss of record: Information and records stored in cabinets could be physically damaged or due to lack of backup or lost due to theft.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the project is to fully understand the existing system and to identify the basic information requirement and then discuss now the computerization of the system can assist in eradicating the problems of non-computer based system.
The specific objectives includes:
- To save the time wasted with manual procedures of power monitoring system.
- To ensure that quick and accurate calculations are carried out on all transactions without any suspicious of any sought.
- To enhanced method of record keeping which is less stressful and easy to replicate.
- To ensure data security by restricting access to the program and to the database.
- To ensure easy access and retrieval of data in the program.
- Significance of the Study
Owing to the apparent and deliberate cynic approach of people towards the issue of whether or power monitoring system is expedient, the research project has the under-listed significance:
- Eliminates the problems inherent in the old power monitoring system/procedure by offering an automated real-time data processing approach.
- Reduce complaints by aggrieved customers owing to poor service thereby upholding the corporate image of EEDC.
- Educate EEDC officials of the use of computing operations to carry out transactions.
- To ginger further study and research on the topic by other students and academicians.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The scope of this study is focused on power monitoring in EEDC. It considers the procedures used for managing the billing system in EEDC and how a computerized system can contribute to the betterment of these activities. The study uses EEDC, Awka as its case study.
1.6 Limitations of Study
In the course of carrying out this research work a number of problems were encountered.
- Lack of adequate fund to finance the project: this was another limitation to this work because much money is needed to carry out a detailed research work which is not easily borne by every student.
- The limited knowledge of ASP.net and Visual Basic programming was great challenge to this project. However, more research was made to complete this project successfully.
1.7 Definition of Terms
Automation: it is the replacement of human workers by technology; a system in which a workplace or processes has been converted to one that replaced or ministries human labor with electronic or mechanical equipment.
Bills: This is an amount of money owed for goods supplied or services rendered, set out in a printed or written statement of charge that is to be paid for at a later date by the consumers.
Capacitor: This is a passive two-terminal component used to store energy in an electric field.
Data processing: it is defined as the entire process of converting or manipulating data into definite meaningful information (Adigwe, & Okoye, 2015).
Data Security: Data security prevents unauthorized users from viewing or updating the database by the use of passwords.
Data: is any collections of vital information that meant to be processed.
Database Management System (DBMS): it is software which controls the flow of data and checks and checks on how data are stored.
Database: is an organized /unique collection of related files. It is a collection of schemas, tables, queries, reports, views and other object.
Documentation: material that provides official information or evidence that serves as record; written specifications and information that describes the product.
Electric Power: Electric power is the rate of energy consumption in a circuit. The electric power is measured in units of watts.
Information: is a processed data that can be read and understand.
Management: it is act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively. It includes planning, organizing, staffing, leading or directing, and controlling an organization or a system to accomplish a goal.
Monitoring: This generally means to be aware of the state of the system in order to control the system effectively.
Security: This helps to prevent unauthorized users from illegally accessing certain data within the database, it protects your data/ files.
Software: is a program or a set of programs written to carry out some task in the computer, it also perform logical related programs that works together to control the hardware.
Supply: This is the amount of electrical energy that is being released to a particular circuit within a particular. Supply determines the consumption of power.
System: It is the collection of hardware and software, data information procedure and people.
Voltage: This is the potential energy that makes the electrical current flow in circuit by pushing the electrons around. It is how we measure the difference in electrical energy.
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