Analysis of the Electricity Distribution Supply in Eastern Nigeria: Current Challenges and Possible Solutions
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Date
2021
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Journal of Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Control and Computer Science
Abstract
Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is the Distribution Company responsible for electricity disbursement for the South-East geopolitical zone in Nigeria, comprising of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. EEDC is allocated 9% of the total electricity generated by the 28 generating stations in the Nigeria's National Electricity Grid. This paper assesses the operational efficiency of EEDC in electricity distribution to its constituent states. Electricity Distribution Analysis on EEDC was conducted for the month of July 2020, using a Power Optimization Software. The results obtained showed that EEDC could only distribute 41.7% of the electricity required by its constituent states, resulting in only 10 hours of electricity in the region on any given day. EEDC's technical distribution losses decreased the number of hours of electricity available in the region from 23.4 ± 1.3 hours to 10.1 ± 0.5 hours. No algorithm is currently employed by EEDC in distributing available power, resulting in unpredictable and erratic power supply across the region. The recommended solutions for EEDC are investments in EEDC-owned Embedded Generation (EG) units to boost regional power generation, reduction and elimination of EEDC technical distribution losses, and implementation of an automated power disbursement algorithm using regional classification. Automated rationing and distribution of available grid electricity using region classification ensured commercial regions received the available electricity from EEDC during the day (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.) to promote industrial economic activities, while residential regions received the available electricity from EEDC at night (12 a.m. - 4 a.m. and 6 p.m. - 12 a.m.). It also made Grid Electricity from EEDC predictable and available when needed the most by consumers. These solutions would ensure, predictable and constant electricity supply in South-East Nigeria.
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