E-Distributie Muntenia has planned for this year investment projects amounting to 62.6 million lei (approx. 13 million euros) in the medium and low voltage networks in Bucharest, Ilfov and Giurgiu, in order to improve the quality of the electricity distribution service and the security of supply for about 160,000 customers.
In Bucharest, the most important project is the transition to 20KV of the 6kV and 10kV networks in the areas Bucharest South-Jilava (gradually), Drumul Taberei (gradually), Cotroceni (gradually) and Floreasca, the respective networks serving about 34,500 customers. Upgrading the medium voltage network to 20kV creates the premises to meet the need for growing consumption as well as the connection of new customers, together with the safe and efficient operation of the network by reducing the technological losses.
There will also be modernized around 120 secondary substations, as well as a series of connection point substations, from all parts of the city, and all modernised equipment will be introduced into the E-Distributie Muntenia Telecontrol and Automation system, which allows remote network operation and automatic isolation of defective sections of the power lines, significantly shortening the duration of interruptions as well as the duration of interventions in case of faults. Other important projects for Bucharest are the modernisation of underground electrical networks in the areas Aviatorilor – Mărăști, Olteniței – Văcărești – Iriceanu, Prelungirea Ghencea, Toamnei – Eminescu, Calea Griviței.
The projects in Bucharest target networks serving a total of approximately 95,000 customers.
In Ilfov County will be carried out modernisation projects of networks and equipment that feed about 44,000 customers. E-Distributie Muntenia will modernise about 30 transformer sub-stations in the Tunari, Afumați, Buftea and the low-voltage network and the electrical connections in Pasărea, Islaz, Vadu Anei, Chiajna, Periș and Otopeni. Also, works are underway for medium and low voltage lines and measure centralization in Căţelu, Nuci, Periş, Popeşti Leordeni and Brăneşti. Measure centralization involves the modernisation of the electrical connections as well as the relocation of measuring groups at the limit of customes’ premises.
Projects in Giurgiu County will improve security of supply for about 22,000 customers. Thus, the projects involve the upgrading of medium voltage lines serving the municipalities Toporu, Tomulești, Găiseni, Cărpeniș, Florești, Stoenești and the modernisation of low-voltage lines in Pădureni, Putineiu, Tomulești, Găujani, Pietrișu, Bolintin Vale, as well as in the city of Giurgiu. In Buturugeni, Căscioare, Roata, Bulbucata, Daia, Vânătorii Mici, Crevedia Mare, Răsuceni, Vărăști are scheduled measure centralization works.
The projects are part of a large investment plan conducted by E-Distributie companies in Romania to improve the quality of the services offered to customers, by upgrading and retrofitting the electrical stations, the distribution power grid and by implementing Enel group’s environmental standards.
As a result of the investments made for the networks modernisation, the three E-Distributie companies in the areas of South Muntenia, Banat and Dobrogea have been leading for many years the top of electricity distribution operators in Romania. According to the latest official reports of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), for the year 2017, the SAIDI index for E-Distributie Muntenia was 145 minutes, the most performant in the country, the national average recorded being 283.9 minutes. The E-Distributie Dobrogea and Banat also had performances below the national average, with the SAIDI index of 185 minutes and 259 minutes, respectively.