Low Voltage Asset Management (LVAM)The key to reliable and safe electricity

Archie Jaykaran

Distribution Division

Eskom SA

LVAM

Contents

• Change drivers

• Scope, Approach, Project status

• LV Planning and Design

• LV forecasting

• Maintenance and Operations

• Data

• Conclusion

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LVAM

Change Drivers• Rapid growth in network infrastructure to support economic growth and

Universal Access. Currently 4 million- expected increase 1.5m

• Ageing network infrastructure - growing need for refurbishment and replacement of assets

• Public Safety - networks are an increasing risk

• Increasing opex expenditure- ’to keep the lights burning’

• Regulatory and legislative requirements eg. SANS 10142-1, NRS 057&048

• Overloaded networks

• Theft, tampering, illegal connections - cancerous

• A Corrective Maintenance approach on low voltage networks

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LVAM

Scope of low voltage asset management project

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LV Service Connection

LV Overhead Network

LV Installation

Meter

Service connection box with 4 x MCBs

LV pole

x n homes

MV/LV transformer

LV Overhead Line

x n homes

LV Fuses

LV Line (ABC)

MV Line

xx

Asset Management Approach – PAS 55

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‘We are here’

Assessment

Phase I

2009

Design/Scoping

Phase II

Y1 (2010)

Implementation

Phase II

Y1 (2010)

Implementation

Phase II

Y2 (2011)

LV Asset Management assessment and project

charter (1yr)

Recommendation Solutions for Identified Gaps

(2 months)

Implement prioritised projects (1yr)

Full Rollout / Implementation of Asset Management

(1yr)

Delivered

• Project team

• Project charter

• Specific findings per life cycle stage (Gap Analysis)

• Information requirements

• OD requirements

• Change Management

• Identified LV maintenance staffing requirement

Scope

• Define initial design / scoping study

• Analyse life cycle focus areas and produce plan per issue

• Define y1 implementation plan

• Develop Change Management Plan

• Investigate OD

• Lifecycle data requirements

• Prioritise solutions

• Define and set up PMO

• Define desired end state

Implement prioritised year one projects

Implement prioritised y2 projects

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CompletedProject status

LVAM

LV Planning and Design

Challenges / lessons

• Incoherent Planning and Design policy

• Inaccurate load forecasting - results in overloading

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LVAM

Key Deliverable: LV Planning and Design Policy

Objective: Define principles to improve LV network planning and design

Contents:

• Specifies the primary principles and assumptions to be used during network planning and design.

• Defines the responsibilities of the MV/LV project engineering department.

• Documents the expectations from other stakeholders e.g. MV Network Planning, Electrification Planning, the Technology Group etc., to ensure proper integration and co-ordination.

• Sets out the principles for the costing and evaluation of electrification projects.

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LVAM

LV Load Forecasting methodology

Objective: More accurate load forecasting for domestic customers

Approach:

• Determine correct measures to estimate energy consumption

• Living Standards Measure (LSM) more accurate than Household Income to estimate energy consumption

• Independent surveys by SAARF (South African Advertising Research Foundation) every 2 years – no effort on part of utility

• Based on amongst others, ownership of electric appliances – directly related to electricity consumption

• Established guidelines to estimate LSM based on type of dwellings

• Develop comprehensive load forecasting methodology – based on existing load research (NRS 034), and DT-PET (Distribution Pre-Electrification Tool) easy. 8

LVAM

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Overview of new LV load forecasting methodology

LVAM

20112010

Corrective

Maintenance

Approach

Condition-

based

Maintenance

Reliability Centred Maintenance

(RCM) Approach

• No inspections

• Run to failure

approach • Time-based

inspection

intervals• Time-based Inspection

intervals based on risk

• Maintenance based on

RCM Analysis (FMEA &

Maint Logic)

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LV Maintenance strategy

LVAM

Inspection frequency based on risk assessment

High Risk

(H)

Medium Risk

(M)

Low Risk

(L)

Network type

(A)

Overhead

Open

Conductor

Insulated

Bundled

Conductors

Underground

cables

Demographic

(B)Urban Semi Rural Rural

Network Age

(C)>10yrs 5-10 Yrs <5 yrs

Risk Range 5 3 1

Risk Task Frequency

1-4 60 months

5-8 36 months

9-12 12 months

13-15 9 months 11

LVAM

Failure Mode, and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

For each LV asset, the component was analysed to determine the impact on the network:

Function

• Functional Failure

• Failure Mode

• Failure Effect

• Maintenance Decision Tree

• Maintenance tasks (inputs to job plans)

• New Maintenance program

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LVAM

Maintenance solutions addresses the following:

• New maintenance programme established to cover all customers and approx. 300,000 transformers zones

• New staffing model developed – additional 1,000 Technical Officials (TOs) being appointed

• Increase in vehicles and transport budget

• New training programme introduced – focused on LV

• LV Planning and Design guidelines to reduce life cycle costs by considering the impact on O & M.

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LVAM

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LV Asset Data

Objective: Solve the challenge of limited LV network data – data is key to AM

Approach:

• Developed a detailed data specification for all major LV assets.

• Defines all data elements that are required to adequately manage LV assets and to effectively perform tasks such as planning, design, maintenance etc.

• Identifies the information systems in which the data currently reside

• Defines the actions to be performed by different stakeholders (e.g. create, read, update and delete) in each system.

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LV Asset Data

Extract of the data specification.

Asset Group (e.g. Transformer Zone ID)

o Assets (e.g. Transformers, LV feeder, Point of Supply, Service Connection)

Asset Component (e.g. Earthing, Structure, Surge Arrestor etc)

o Data Type (e.g. As built data, maintenance data, procurement data etc)

Data Attribute (e.g. Transformer no., kVA rating, mounting, primary

voltage etc)

o Alignment with Common Information Model (CIM)

Mandatory (Y/N)

Etc.

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Conclusion

• Eskom is taking a holistic approach to managing LV assets in a way that optimizes life-cycle

cost, operational efficiency and balances risk.

• To date the programme has developed several solutions that will improve the planning,

design, commissioning and operations and maintenance of LV networks.

• The expected end state (18 to 24 months) will result in the following benefits:

• LV and MV networks are optimally planned and designed to meet customer expectations

• Correct prioritisation of capital expansion, refurbishment and strengthening of LV networks;

• Correct commissioning and hand-over of constructed LV assets;

• A pro-active maintenance approach that optimises resources and which helps to reduce the number

of supply interruptions and risk to public safety;

• Optimised asset life and return on invest;

• Accurate and easily accessible data on LV assets to enable strategic and operational decisions;

• Ultimately the LV AM programme will result in an AM system that will ensure more reliable LV

electricity networks that facilitate public safety. 16

LVAM

THANK YOU

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