Electrical Network Mapping and Consumer Indexing using GIS

by S P S Raghav Chairman and Managing Director UPCL, Dehradun Abstract Since independence, we have increased our installed power capacity from 1362 MW to about 110,000 MW and electrified more than 500,000 villages. However, it is a matter of concern that the annual per capita consumption, at about 350 kWh is among the lowest in the world and there are widespread shortages of power in almost all parts of the country. A large number of villages have no access to electricity at all. Households, farmers, commercial establishments and industries are confronted with frequent power cuts, both scheduled and unscheduled. Power cuts, erratic voltage levels and wide fluctuations in the frequency are common. Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses, excluding theft, are as high as 27.8%. In fact, electricity theft alone causes state utilities to lose over Rs 20,000 crores annually. To make matter worse only 55% of energy generated is billed and a much lesser 41% is realized in revenues. The present paper analyzes the present power scenario and the role of GIS in spearheading the Distribution reforms processes to improve the power industrys viability. To achieve this, IT can play an important role with the use of modern tools and technology. In fact, given the geographical spread and diversity of power distribution system, GIS has the potential to revolutionize the reform process in areas like consumer indexing, distribution network mapping, asset and work management, enhancing billing and collection efficiency and managing consumer relationships. Therefore, GIS is a valuable tool for improved decision-making through efficient MIS. THE PRESENT POWER SCENARIO The total energy shortage today is roughly 8 per cent of the total demand and the peak shortage is roughly 13 per cent of peak demand. Based on the demand projections made in a Power Survey by the Ministry of Power, over 100,000 MW additional generation capacity needs to be added by 2012 to bridge the gap between demand and supply. The major reasons for inadequate, erratic and unreliable power supply are:
1. 2. 3. 4.

Jayant K Sinha Dy General Manager (IT) UPCL, Dehradun

Inadequate power generation capacity Lack of optimum utilization of the existing generation capacity Inadequate inter-regional transmission links Inadequate and ageing sub-transmission & distribution network

5. 6. 7.

Large scale theft and skewed tariff structure Slow pace of power reforms Inefficient use of electricity by the end consumer

As per the report of Ministry of Power, a capacity addition target of 46,500 MW has been fixed for Central Public Sector Undertakings. At the State level, the SEBs/ State utilities and private sector will add another 41,800 MW. An integrated approach, including capacity addition through nuclear and non-conventional energy also has been planned in which 6400 MW would be added through nuclear power and 10,700 MW through nonconventional resources up to 2012. ROLE OF GIS IN DISTRIBUTION REFORMS Distribution is the weakest link in the chain of power supply. Distribution has been identified as the key focus area in power sector reforms. T&D losses are in the range of 40-45% and GIS can help reduce losses and improve energy efficiency through its contribution in the following areas of Distribution reforms: 1. 100% consumer metering and AMR: Installation of meters at all the transformation stages and in the premises of consumers, with the provision for accurate meter reading 2. Feeder & DT metering: Installation of static (electronic) meters on all 11 KV outgoing feeders and DTs 3. Effective MIS: Both feeder and DT static meters record active energy, power factor and load information which can be downloaded to a computer network to build effective MIS for quick decision-making and improved distribution system 4. Total energy accounting: Energy received in each 11 kV sub-station and 11 kV out-going feeders, energy billed and T&D losses at each feeder and DT shall be properly accounted for. 5. Installation of capacitor banks & network reconfiguration: Installation of capacitors at all levels, reconfiguration of feeder lines & DTs in a way as to reduce the length of LT lines thereby reducing ATC losses 6. High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS): Installation of small energy efficient DTs supplying power to 10 to 15 households only, re-conductoring of overloaded sections, digital mapping of the entire distribution system and load flow studies to strengthen the distribution system. GIS can help in achieving the above reforms objectives through various applications: 1. Creation of consumer database and consumer indexing: Indexing of all the consumers in all categories so that the consumers can be segregated feeder-wise and DT-wise is necessary. The consumers are mapped using GIS technology and

identified based on their unique electrical address, called Consumer Index Number (CIN). 2. Mapping of Sub-transmission and Electrical Distribution Network: It is equally important to have all the 33 KV substations, 11 KV feeders, DTs and LT feeders digitally mapped and geo-referenced. 3. Load Flow Studies: Having done so, load and consumer profile can be studied and inferences drawn for rectifying imbalances in the network, load analysis in varius network segments and load rearrangement. 4. Load Forecasting: GIS becomes an effective tool in optimal design and choice of substation location, demand-side management, future load assessment and load planning. 5. Management Information System (MIS): Based on inputs from GIS, which is regularly updated and monitored, a robust MIS can be built for analyzing and reducing ATC losses, improved revenue billing and collection and load demand/ supply analysis. GIS APPLICATION IN MAPPING OF NETWORK AND CONSUMERS GIS technology can be effectively used for correct marking of the jurisdiction various Distribution Circles on Geographical Area Map. GIS mapping of Subtransmission and Distribution network from 33 kV substations down to LT feeders becomes handy in proper identification, locating and documenting of electrical network assets. All the existing connections and consumer details can be graphically displayed on the GIS map linked to the database. The mapping of electrical network on GIS base maps and linking with the indexed consumer database is a multi-step process: 1. Develop Database of Electrical Network from 33 kV to LT System with related parameters of Lines, Substations and Distribution Transformers 2. Develop Consumer Database based on the Physical, Electrical and Commercial parameters of the consumers and linking them on GIS map 3. Segregation of Consumers - 11 kV Feeder-wise and Distribution Transformer-wise - to evaluate energy supplied, billed and system losses with rendering and visualization on GIS map 4. Superimposition of GIS-based Network and Consumer mapping database on a scale of 1:4000 or better 5. Evaluation of feeder-wise and DT-wise Energy Losses, correlating with load flow studies and their depiction on GIS map Mapping and Indexing of Electrical Consumers

The purpose of GIS Mapping and Indexing of the consumers is to identify and locate all the consumers on geographical map, which are being fed from the Distribution Mains. There may be cases where electric connection exists but it does not exist in the utility's record. It may be a case of unauthorized connection or non-legderized connection. On the other hand, there may be cases where a connection exists in the utility's record, but it may not exist physically at site. Following reasons could be attributed for such anomalies: 1. The connection might have been disconnected long back but the record may not have been updated. 2. It may be a case where the address and other details of the consumers are not correctly recorded. Using GIS, the LT lines coming out from Distribution Transformer and all service connections from the LT mains can be checked with reference to the consumers connected and accordingly the consumer database can be updated. Mapping and documentation of Electric Network The complete electrical network and network route are digitized and mapped on a suitable scale over the base map, using suitable GIS software, so that the changes in the network can be timely and correctly updated on a periodic basis. Through software application, queries can be generated to find out the network details like the make and specifications of network elements, the length of feeders and LT conductors, number of transformers and breakers on any section of the network. The network database should have the important details of 33 KV substations, 11 KV feeders, Distribution Transformers and LT lines. Feeder-wise and Distribution Transformer-wise consumer segregation To identify the areas of high losses, it is essential to segregate the energy input and consumption Distribution Transformer-wise and 11 KV feeder-wise. The losses are assessed by subtracting the total energy utilization of the consumers from the energy supplied to the respective Distribution Transformer and 11 KV Feeder. Using GPS-based survey of 11 KV feeders, DTs and LT poles, the connected consumers can be identified on the GIS map and segregated Distribution Transformer-wise and 11 KV feeder-wise. Load Flow Study and Load Management The purpose of load flow study is to eliminate overloading of the network, minimize technical losses, overcome low voltage problems and avoid unbalanced loading of Distribution Transformer and LT network in order to achieve optimum utilization of Transformer and network capacity. GIS data of electrical network and consumers can help in the following exercises required for Load Flow Study:

1. 2. 3.

Evaluate 33 KV, 11 KV and LT feeder-wise technical losses Identify the network section overloaded or having high technical losses Identify the area of unbalanced loading of Distribution Transformer and LT Network and take corrective action to minimize technical loss and achieve optimum utilization of transformer's capacity Work out voltage regulation of the network and identify the areas having high voltage drops and suffering with low voltage problem. Based on the above information, alternate arrangement of supply to important areas can be made in case of outage of part of existing feeding network. Also, augmentation of the network can be effectively planned to cater for the increase in projected load.

4.

THE ROORKEE EXAMPLE In the Roorkee circle of Uttaranchal Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL), with a consumer base of 1.2 lacs, GIS technology has been effectively used for the following activities: 1. Meter Installation Survey: This was done to find out the condition of the metering equipment at the consumers premises and also update the correct consumer details in the database using GIS tools. 2. Network Mapping: The location coordinates (Latitude-Longitude) of every consumer and electrical network element, from 33 KV sub-station through 11 KV feeder down to DT and the nearest LT service pole has been plotted on GIS map, with the following features: a. All the network elements are identified and a database developed to record all the technical attributes of the network element. b. All the network assets have a unique identification number. The network database has a linkage with consumer database. c. The network database is having a GUI interface where all the child components are shown as subset of the parent. When a parent is selected the entire child components can be seen in the left pane. The graphical symbol of the parent component is shown as expandable. d. In case of network reconfiguration where some components are electrically connected to a new parent component, then all such child components can be selected in the left pane can be dragged and dropped to be new parent component. The database gets immediately modified to show new electrical connectivity. e. The entire electrical network has been mapped on a scale of 1:4000. When the DT is selected on GIS map, then all the LT lines connected to that DT and corresponding LT lines are shown.

3. Consumer Indexing: A unique Consumer Index Number (CIN) has been provided to all types of consumers and the consumer/ network database has been developed for correlating each consumer to the corresponding electrical attributes, using GIS tools to query and retrieve information. The methodology adopted for the exercise has been enumerated below: a. A detailed door-to-door consumer survey was carried out for the creation of consumer database linked to DT (for LT customers) and linked to feeder for HT consumers b. All consumers were allotted a unique Consumer Identification Number (CIN) based on the electrical address of consumers. c. The information of the consumers network connectivity has been maintained in the database. d. The consumer database has been linked to the network database for the purpose of defining the consumer's electrical connectivity. 4. Distribution Network Modeling: The electrical assets like Sub-stations, 11 KV feeders, DTs, Poles and LT feeders have also been uniquely codified and modeled with the help of GIS and GPS technologies. 5. Load Flow Analysis: This is being done with the help of electrical database imported from GIS map. It plays a key role in determining technical loss, planning and optimization of distribution system.

CONCLUSION
GIS can effectively manage information on the distribution of electricity to consumers and information describing the attributes of each consumer such as location and consumption pattern. Improving the performance of distribution systems to meet the required target is a matter of selecting the most cost-effective and appropriate technology with right operating practices. The distribution systems tend to be very extensive with a long life span for conductors and installations. It is not sufficient to analyze how a particular portion of the network may be modified to improve its performance today, rather in determining the optimal solution based on future demand scenario. GIS technology helps in fast, accurate and reliable data management. Since the sub-transmission and the distribution network of a power utility have a geographical reference, it is beneficial to create the network on GIS map and constantly update the same as per field parameters. With periodic updating and monitoring, GIS mapping of the Electrical Network and Consumer database helps in improved load management, loss reduction, better revenue realization, asset and work management and possibly better consumer relationship.