Comprehensive long term network planning within AM/FM/GIS
Hugo Klingenberg
Technology Manager
Netplan - Division of NET (Pty) Ltd
Po Box 771, Silverton, 0127
Pretoria South africa
Tel: +27 12 803 7591
Fax: +27 12 803 7285
E-mail: hg.klingenberg@netgroup.co.za
Introduction
The process of deregulation and privatisation of the electric utility industry is in an advanced stage
in many developed countries. In order to survive, the affected utilities were forced to find ways to
be more cost effective. Geo-spatial Information Technology (AM/FM/GIS) is being successfully
implemented as integrating technology by many utilities to stay competitive. AM/FM/GIS systems
reduce data duplication and increase data integrity. In the past a lot of energy was wasted by
searching for data and verifying the accuracy thereof.
The trend of deregulation and privatisation is reaching developing countries, forcing electric
utilities to change the way in which they do business. Similar to the developed world, AM/FM/GIS
has been identified as a cost cutting tool to create more effective utilities. There is at least one
additional challenge in implementing AM/FM/GIS in the developing world. Most of the utilities
form part of government structures, which are cash strapped and often adverse to capital spending.
At first AM/FM/GIS is perceived as far too expensive, given the unfavourable foreign exchange
rates. However, after careful analysis it is clear that AM/FM/GIS can realise many more benefits
than the cost of implementation.
These utilities are in desperate need of properly motivated capital programs in order to source the
necessary capital funding. This implies that a comprehensive long term network plan is needed.
This paper focuses on the long term network planning process and how this planning is performed
on a AM/FM/GIS system.
Network planning process
This section provides an overview of the network planning process employed by many electric
utility companies in developing countries.
The need for long term Network Planning
Any business that wants to survive into the future has to perform long term planning. In the electric
utility industry this means that a network has to be planned to meet the anticipated future demand
in the most cost effective way.
Electrical networks are capital intensive and with capital being scarce, the network extensions need
to be motivated properly by funding organisations. An additional spin off of proper long term
planning is that tariff changes can be planned and phased in gradually. Finally, a utility with a
strategic plan has a better chance of being successful in a more competitive future.
Process followed
The power system planning process refers to the engineering exercise that network planners follow
to ensure that the preferred power system is established in the long term.
The following characteristics are considered to be essential for a power system:
- The combination of costs to the utility due to capital expenditure and the cost to the
customer due to power failures should be minimised.
- Rated voltages of the system should be aligned with quality equipment from a wide range
of manufacturers in an industry where healthy competition prevails.
- Network capacity allocation must be provided as close to the electrical load centres as
possible in a fashion such that reserve capacity is minimised, but is still within acceptable
reliability requirements.
- Facilities must fulfill the electrical energy requirements of the society and the business that
they serve at a cost that the users can afford.
- Electrical energy losses must be minimised.
- Facilities must comply with environmental constraints.
