Delgaz Grid, part of the E.ON Romania Group, has invested over 2.9 billion lei (682 million euro) since 2005, for the modernization of the electricity distribution system in the six counties in Moldova in which it operates (Bacău, Botoșani, Iași, Neamț, Suceava and Vaslui).

One of the company’s priorities is to automate the electricity distribution infrastructure by installing remote-controlled equipment in stations and transformation units, in medium voltage networks and integrating them into SCADA (data acquisition, remote control and control), the company said.

Of the 134 transformer stations that the company operates, 122 have been modernized and integrated (totally or partially) into SCADA. At the end of last year, a program of about 12.5 million lei was completed, running for two years, which aimed at modernizing and integrating 13 transformation stations in SCADA.

“The results of the investments are visible, the quality of the electricity distribution service, especially ensuring the continuity of the service, has been permanently improved. This year we have allocated for the electricity segment a record investment budget, of 387 million lei, 38% more than in the previous year,” said Csulak Ferenc, general manager of Delgaz Grid.

The automation of the distribution system included about 1,380 remote-controlled equipment (remote-controlled separators and reclosers) mounted in medium voltage overhead networks and integrated in SCADA.

For the period 2021-2023 Delgaz Grid has prepared investments of about 7 million lei for the installation of another 150 remote-controlled equipment for the automation of medium voltage overhead networks and investments of about 53.5 million lei for the automation of medium voltage underground networks in urban areas, by modernizing and integrating into SCADA 194 transformation stations.

By the end of 2020, about 327,000 smart meters have already been installed in consumers in over 750 localities in Moldova, through successive investment programs. Most units were installed in Bacău and Neamț counties, where about 64% and 44% of customers, respectively, benefit from smart metering.

For the period 2021-2028, the company’s goal is to install another 387,000 meters. This means that over 700,000 customers representing 45% of the total customers connected to the company’s electricity network will have smart meters installed by the end of 2028.