E-Distribuție Muntenia invests 66 million lei in the high voltage networks

Over 29 million lei are scheduled for the modernisation of the high voltage (110 kV) power lines. The most important projects, worth over 15 million lei, are the replacement of the underground 110 kV power lines Nord-Grozăvești and Nord-Centru in Bucharest, in order to enhance the quality of supply for about 98,400 customers. Other projects, worth approximately 14 million lei, include the upgrade of the overhead high voltage power lines and the most important works are on the lines Domnești-Jilava, Glina-Popești, Glina-Dudești, CET Sud-Dudești, CET Brazi-Fundeni, Căciulați-Afumați, Căciulați-Tâncăbești and CET Brazi-Tâncăbești.

The projects to upgrade transformer stations will further advance service quality for approx. 237,000 customers, following total investments of about 37 million lei. For example, the Pajura transfomer station was modernised and introduced in the Telecontrol system, therefore allowing E-Distribuție specialists to operate it remotely, following investments of over 21 million lei. This year, after further investments of 5 million lei, the capacity of the station will be raised, as two new transformers will be commissioned, each with capacity of 25 MVA (Mega Volt Ampere), in addition to the current 2x40 MVA capacity. Furthermore, the station will operate at the 20kV medium voltage, which will not only allow the increase of consumption of existing customers but also the connection of new customers in the area.

The latest transformer station which was put in function is Transilvania, in Ilfov County near the Bucharest ring-road, following investments of 8 million lei. The 2x25MVA station delivers energy to customers in the area in the North of Bucharest and will allow for higher energy consumption in this area while also improving service quality for existing customers.

Other important projects in progress are the modernisation of the stations Nord, Dudești, Obor, Filaret, Mașini Grele, scheduled for completion in the 2020-2022 timeframe. These stations supply electric energy to over 215,000 customers.

These projects are included in the comprehensive investment plan carried out by E-Distributie companies in Romania in order to improve the quality of services offered to customers, by modernizing and enhancing capacity of the power stations, improving the distribution network and implementing the Enel Group's environment protection standards.

As a result of the large investments in grid modernisation, the three E-Distributie companies in Muntenia Sud, Banat and Dobrogea regions remain the leaders of the service quality rankings of the electricity distribution operators in Romania. According to ANRE official reports for 2018, E-Distributie Muntenia was the best performing electricity distribution operator in the country, with the lowest duration of unplanned interruptions. The SAIDI index (System Average Interruption Duration Index – average duration of interruptions per customer) for E-Distributie Muntenia was 138 minutes, an improvement compared to 145 minutes in 2017. Following places in the ranking were occupied by E-Distribuție Dobrogea, with 188.8 minutes, and E-Distribuție Banat, with 214.7 minutes, while the national average was higher, at 224.1 minutes.

Enel is a multinational power company and a leading integrated player in the global power, gas and renewables markets. It is one of Europe’s largest utilities and figures among Europe’s leading power companies in terms of installed capacity and reported EBITDA. The Group is present in over 30 countries worldwide, producing energy with around 89 GW of managed capacity. Enel distributes electricity and gas through a network of over 2.2 million kilometres, and with around 73 million business and household end users globally, the Group has the largest customer base among its European peers. Enel’s renewable business line Enel Green Power already manages more than 43 GW of wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower plants in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Enel Romania is a leading private investor in energy, with operations in power distribution and supply as well as renewable energy production, active on the local market since 2005. The company has 3,100 employees and around 3 million business and household end users in the country. The E-Distributie companies operate a network of around 128,000 kilometres in three key areas of the country: Muntenia Sud (including Bucharest), Banat and Dobrogea, accounting for one third of Romania’s electricity distribution market, and are developing an investment programme aimed at securing a proper service for customers, improving the quality and security of the network while also complying with Enel’s environmental standards