E-Distributie companies in Romania are investing this year 880 million lei, the equivalent of 182 million euros, in modernizing, digitalizing, and expanding the electricity grid in Bucharest and the ten counties across the country where it operates. The investment programs have a direct impact on the grid’s ability to distribute energy to new consumers and improve the management of unplanned outages to ensure the safe supply to customers.
“Traditional distribution grids, those that transmit electricity to consumers, will be transformed into active and participatory grids, placing the customer at the centre of the energy system and improving the quality of energy distribution service. The grid modernization and digitalization programs that the E-Distributie companies implement are turning this transformation into reality. The company’s strategic plan for the next three years recognizes the key role of grids in the energy transition and focuses on efforts to improve the reliability, resilience, and efficiency of the distribution grids. Everything to the benefit of our customers,” said Monica Hodor, General Manager of E-Distribuţie Banat, E-Distribuţie Dobrogea and E-Distribuţie Muntenia.
Of the total investments scheduled for this year, 141 million lei are allocated to high voltage lines and modernization works on transformer stations, 130 million lei to modernization works and construction of medium voltage lines and substations, and 88 million lei to low voltage lines. The amounts allocated by the E-Distributie companies for connections, including those imposed by the primary legislation, and strengthening the grid for new users reach about 164 million lei (34 million euros).
A large part of E-Distribution’s investments in 2021 are focused on digitization programs, through remote control systems that significantly reduce the duration of power outages and of troubleshooting time, as well as the installation of approximately 210,000 smart meters. In this way, more consumers will enjoy the benefits of this modern equipment, such as remote reading of meters, providing details on their consumption profile, thus promoting their active participation in market developments and the responsible use of electricity.
In Banat, E-Distributie has planned investments of 219 million lei in the modernization and digitalization of electricity grids. Out of this amount, 25 million lei are planned for modernization works of high voltage lines and transformer stations, 38 million lei for the medium voltage lines and substations, and 23 million lei for modernization works and construction of low voltage lines. At the same time, E-Distributie Banat plans to replace power lines and continues the implementation of Telecontrol systems. The company will install smart meters for 56,730 customers in the counties of Arad, Caras-Severin, Hunedoara and Timis.
Large projects include the refurbishment of the transformer station and the modernization of the medium voltage lines in Orăștie municipality, Hunedoara County. Also, E-Distributie Banat is modernizing the Simeria transformer station, for an investment that exceeds 5 million lei, and has started the works for the construction of a new 110/20 kV transformer station in northern Timisoara. In the counties of Timis, Arad, Hunedoara and Caras Severin, the investments in new capacities, the extension of consumer grids, new connections, including those imposed by the primary legislation, reach 44 million lei.
In Dobrogea, E-Distributie has planned for 2021 investments of 176 million lei in the modernization and digitalization of electricity grids. Out of this amount, 21 million lei are planned for modernization works of high voltage lines and transformer stations, 22 million lei for modernization works and construction of medium voltage lines and substations and 35 million lei for the low voltage lines. Moreover, E-Distributie Dobrogea will install 46,850 smart meters in the counties of Călărași, Constanța, Ialomița and Tulcea.
In Constanța and Ialomița counties, the company plans to modernize the Baba Novac and Slobozia Sud transformer stations, for the supply of electricity in good conditions to customers in Constanta and Slobozia localities; both 110kV / MT 25MVA power transformers at the Eforie Nord transformer station have been replaced with transformers with higher power, of 40MVA, to ensure the connection to the grid of the new consumers in the South part of Constanța County. In Călărași County, works are being carried out to improve the low voltage lines, benefitting the consumers in Oltenița and Nicolae Balcescu.
In Muntenia, E-Distributie has planned investments of 483 million lei in the modernization and digitalization of the electricity grids. Of the total value, 95 million lei are planned for modernization works of high voltage lines and transformer stations, 70 million lei for modernization works and construction of medium voltage lines and substations, and 30 million lei for the low voltage lines. Also, this year, E-Distribuţie Muntenia plans to install almost 104,300 smart meters in Bucharest and Giurgiu and Ilfov counties.
In Bucharest, E-Distribuție Muntenia is modernizing and introducing the Telecontrol system at the Nord, Filaret, Obor and Dudesti transformer stations, for 34 million lei. Also, the low voltage lines in the Domenii area and the Toamnei – Eminescu neighbourhood are being modernized, by fully replacing the medium and low voltage cables for a number of 10 streets. The investment amounts to about 6 million lei and comes to the support of 9,500 customers.
In Giurgiu County, in the localities of Toporu and Răsuceni, E-Distribuţie Muntenia is fully replacing the low voltage electricity grids with new insulated conductors and the outdated pillars while also installing smart meters. The estimated value of the works reaches 5.7 million lei, benefitting of 1,850 customers. At the same time, in the localities of Găișeni and Florești Stoenești, works are scheduled to replace 9 kilometres of medium voltage electricity grid located on hard-to-reach lands and seven overhead substations. The estimated value of the works is 10.7 million lei, supporting 4,000 customers.
In Ilfov County, E-Distribuţie Muntenia is modernizing the low voltage network in the commune of Pipera and in the localities of Clinceni and Vidra; the works involve investments of about 20 million lei, benefitting 3,000 customers. At the same time, the company is working on the modernization of the installations in the Pasajul Domnești area by relocating 7 kilometres of medium voltage overhead power grid with underground cable and replacing 4 overhead substations with new generation ones. The works ensures the supply of electricity in good conditions to 8,000 customers.
The electricity grids operated by the three E-Distributie companies include 286 transformer stations and 23,575 substations. In 2020, the grids distributed over 15.3 TWh of electricity, through high, medium and low voltage power lines.
