Evaluation of the Electrical Power Distribution System Reliability in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State

Abstract

The study is designed to evaluate the electrical distribution system reliability. It was carried out in the entire 19 distributions feeders which consist of 33 kV network in Kaduna metropolis. The reliability evaluation was done on 33k V feeders to assess the performance of the present system and compare it with Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Minimum Standard. so as to predict reliability analysis for the future system, considering load growth and system expansion in Kaduna metropolis of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO). Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for the study. The daily outages data of the feeders for the period of 12 months (March, 2017 to February, 2018) were collected and used to compute the monthly reliability indices for each feeder. Mogadishu, Rigasa, Kawo, U/Boro, Kinkinau among other Feeders recorded the highest failure rates within the period. The high forced outages recorded are indications of unreliable performance of the system during the period under study. The findings revealed that all the three indices under study, System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) and System Average Interruption Frequency Index were not operating normal as compare to IEEE Minimum Standard. Key recommendations made include that the number of distribution substations should be increased to reduce the incidence of transformer overloading, and that the use of hotline communications should encouraged.