ELECTRICAL ENERGY LOSS IN RURAL DISTRIBUTION
FEEDERS- A CASE STUDY


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ABSTRACT

This paper presents the analysis of electrical energy loss in rural distribution feeders. Eastern Power Distribution Corporation Limited, APEPDCL of Andhra Pradesh State in India has been implementing some methods to reduce technical losses on rural distribution feeders. Statistical Data of two years on 80 rural distribution feeders of Visakhapatnam district has been analyzed and the results were presented. Field survey has been conducted to assess the exact conditions of feeder loading and distribution system configurations. The rural distribution feeders considered predominantly supply the agricultural loads.

INTRODUCTION

Every element in a power system offers resistance to power flow and consumes some energy while allowing current to flow through it. The cumulative energy consumed by all these elements is termed as Technical Loss. The distribution system in developing countries suffers from the problem of low voltage and high energy loss. The problem of the losses and voltage drop in distribution feeders dependent on each other and varies with the pattern of loading on the feeders. Total transmission and distribution losses are about 40-50%. The major part of the loss is taking place only in distribution sector which accounts for 80-90% of total T&D losses. Cost of power theft is Rs 20,000 Crores / year and the total loss incurred by all State Electricity Boards is Rs 26,000 Crores per year in India.

LOSS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES
IMPLEMENTED BY APEPDCL

To reduce distribution losses and also to prevent theft of electrical energy, high voltage distribution systems are implemented in EPDCL. The length of 415V, 3-phase, 4-wire is reduced and 11KV line length is extended up to very nearer to consumer premises. 100KVA and 200 KVA transformers are replaced by lower capacity transformers such as 25KVA, 15 KVA and 10 KVA transformers of 3-phase.
Regular maintenance works, re-organization of feeders and transformers to reduce overloading, replacement of conductors at appropriate places was carried out by APEPDCL.

DATA OF RURAL DISTRIBUTION FEEDERS

Cumulative percentage energy loss on different feeders of APEPDCL for different months is presented in Table-1 and Tables 2 [3]. April, 2006 to March, 2007 is considered as one financial year. Cumulative loss means, total of month wise energy loss of that financial year starting from March divided by total input energy supplied to the 11 KV feeder month wise. Feeder wise power factor, regulation, length of trunk line and spur line HT and LT side of 11 KV/ 415 V of the Distribution Transformer have been observed on all the 80 feeders under consideration, the observations are presented in the following section.

CONCLUSIONS

The distribution losses can be reduced by proper selection of transformers, feeders, proper re-organization of distribution network, placing the shunt capacitor in appropriate places.