Evaluation of Measures Undertaken in the Distribution Network Based on the Potential of Reducing the Costs of Supply Interruptions

Abstract

The paper presents a new method allowing us to express, in financial terms, the contribution of certain measures undertaken in the network that result in increasing the reliability of electricity supply to customers. This method is based on the potential of reducing the costs of supply interruptions. Simulation tools elaborated by EGÚ Brno, a. s. which respect the nonhomogeneity of the numbers and durations of supply interruptions on individual feeders are used for this purpose. The results obtained follow from the distribution of annual numbers of supply interruptions on feeders and from the distribution of their durations reflecting the real situation on a given group of feeders. The costs of supply interruptions are calculated based on customer's standards of electricity supply continuity. Practical application of the method is demonstrated by using an example of applying a slow auto-reclosing in a 22 kV overhead distribution network and of installing telecontrolled sitching elements on a model 22 kV feeder. Index Terms-Costs of supply interruptions, distribution network, reliabilityVáclav Dětřich received the M.Sc.(El. Eng.) degree from Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic, in 1962, with specialization in electricity transmission and distribution. Since 1962, he has been with EGÚ Brno, a. s. His research interests include designing of electric networks, electricity supply reliability and elaboration of economical, technical and risk analyses, including consulting services. He is a Member of IEEE Power Engineering Society, CIRED and CIGRE. Petr Skala received the M.Sc.(El. Eng.) degree and Ph.D. degree with specialization in power electrical and electronic engineering from Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic, in 2001 and 2004, respectively. His main fields of interest are analyses, reliability, and optimization of distribution networks. He is a Member of IEEE Power Engineering Society, IEEE Reliability Society, CIRED and CIGRE. Zdeněk Špaček received the M.Sc.(El.Eng.) degree with specialization in electricity transmission and distribution and the CSc. (Ph.D.) degree in power engineering from Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic, in 1979 and 1990, respectively. Since 1989, he was the Director of the Power Research Institute Brno, which was the predecessor of EGÚ Brno, a. s. Currently, he is the Chief Executive Manager and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of EGÚ Brno, a. s. His research interests include the dimensioning of MV and HV electric equipment, mainly with regard to atmospheric overvoltages. He is also interested in problems of reliability and economy in the power sector. He is a Member of CIRED and CIGRE. Vladimír Blažek received the M.Sc.(El.Eng.) degree and the CSc. (Ph.D) degree in power engineering from Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic, in 1977 and 1981, respectively. Since 1981, he has been with Brno University of Technology, working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Power Engineering of the Faculty of Electrical ...