ELECTRICITY NETWORKS

2012 Technical
report
01 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012

The aim of this report is to present an

overview of the performance and the quality
of service provided by the network companies
TRANSCO, AADC and ADDC during 2012.

Introduction
With the restructuring of the Abu Dhabi electricity
sector in 1998, production, transmission and
distribution became three separate services.

The Abu Dhabi Transmission and Dispatch Company

(TRANSCO) is responsible for the transmission of
electricity while Al Ain Distribution Company (AADC)
and Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) carry
out distribution and supply of electricity.

The single buyer (ADWEC) purchases all electricity

produced from the power plants to supply it to the
distribution companies at an annually reviewed bulk
supply tariff (BST).

The aim of this report is to present an overview of

the performance and the quality of service provided
by the network companies TRANSCO, AADC and
ADDC during 2012. It also describes the tools used
to measure the quality and reliability of the electrical
system.
02 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012

Transmission network

The transmission network transports large
volumes of electricity from production
companies to the users, including distribution
companies.
The sole transmission licensee in the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi is TRANSCO.
This increase was mainly due to:
-- the 11 kV switchgear replacement for
two transformers in Tourist club 132/11
kV primary; and
-- two transformers in Al Jazeera 132/11 kV
primary that required the grid transformer
outage for about 6 months each.

TRANSCO generates revenue from users via

connection fees and a Transmission Use of Figure 1: Transmission system unavailability
System (TUoS) tariff that is reviewed annually by
2.0% Maintenance
the Bureau.
Construction
1.5% Users
Measuring performance Faults

The technical performance of Abu Dhabi 1.0%

Emirate’s electricity transmission system

0.5%
compares favourably with others worldwide. The
two primary performance measurements used
0.0%
are “system unavailability” and “energy lost”.
2010

2011

2012

System unavailability
Transmission system unavailability measures the
total time during which the transmission system
is out of service, expressed as a percentage of
the total circuit hours in the year.
System unavailability in 2012 was similar to
2011, as shown in Figure 1. Although data
analysis indicates that construction, faults
and maintenance outages reduced in 2012
compared to 2011, outages requested by users
increased significantly (82.8%).
Classification:
• Maintenance: planned outages required by TRANSCO
for plant maintenance.
• Construction: planned outages required by TRANSCO
to construct, extend or modify a transmission system
plant.
• User: planned outages required by the generation or
distribution companies on the transmission system.
• Faults: unplanned outages that occur as a result of
forced plant outages, circuit trippings and system
incidents.
03 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012

TRANSCO’s incidents and energy lost Although the number of transmission system
Five transmission system incidents occurred incidents reduced from nine in 2011 to five
in 2012, resulting in the loss of 678 MWh (an in 2012, the energy lost as a result showed
increase of approximately 250 MWh from a significant increase, mainly due to the
the previous year), as shown in Figure 2. The major incident at the Mussafah Steel Factory
Bureau investigated all five incidents. grid. Following investigations into all these
incidents, actions have been taken to prevent
The most severe of these occurred at the reoccurrence.
220/33 kV Mussafah Steel Factory substation
Distribution companies’ anomalous incidents
(MOSF) on 17 July 2012. This was due
and energy lost
to a flash over on a surge arrestor and a
protection mal-operation of protection at An incident is considered anomalous when a
Mussafah Grid ’s substation. The incident fault on the distribution network results in an
involved a 582 MWh loss at Mussafah Steel outage and loss of demand on TRANSCO’s
Factory substation. network. In 2012, eight anomalous incidents
caused supply interruptions on TRANSCO’s
A major incident occurred at the 220/33 kV assets. These incidents, which are not included
Sanaiya Grid (SNYG) and Mazyad Grid in the performance data shown in Figure 2,
(MZDG) on 9 March 2012, following the resulted in a total loss of 112 MWh,
tripping of three 220 kV overhead lines.
The incident resulted in the loss of 86 MWh Figure 2-1 and 2-2 show the trend in anomalous
due to weather conditions and the incidents for AADC and ADDC where
under-performance of porcelain insulators. the distribution system failed to isolate the
distribution faults, causing the transmission
A further incident occurred on 17 January assets to trip.
2012, two 220/33 kV transformers at Al
Ain power station due to a protection Figure 2-1: Yearly DISCOs anomalous incidents
mal-operation, resulting in the loss of 2.99 MWh.
10
9
On 8 may 2012, a 132 kV cable circuit was 8
AADC
damaged by a contractor which resulted in 7
6 ADDC
a power interruption of 3.27 MWh at the Old
5
Market 132/11 kV substation.
Incidents

4
3
On 30 November 2012, a transformer at 2
Shamkha tripped due to a protection failure 1
0
resulting in the loss of 2.82 MWh.
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Figure 2: Transmission system incidents

Figure 2-2: Energy lost by anomalous incidents

800 10
Number of incidents

700 9 400
Energy lost MWh

8
600 350
7
500 6 300 AADC
400 5 250 ADDC
300 4 200
3
200 150
2
MWh

100 1 100
0 0 50
2010

2011

2012

0
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Energy lost Number of incidents

Anomalous incidents are an area of focus for the

Bureau who has been working closely with the
network companies to ensure appropriate action
plans are developed to improve performance.
04 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012

Ras al Khaimah

Umm Al Quwain
Dhaid
220 kV Lines Ajman
Sharjah
400 kV Lines
Qidfa
Under construction DEWA (Fujairah)
Warsan
Power Stations
Dubai
Taweelah Al Foah
Samha Hayer
Al Reem Interconnection
Shahama to Oman (Wasit)
Saadiyat
Abu Dhabi Umm Al Ain Power
Shweihan Station
Al Nar
Dahma
Mussafah
Wathba Sanaiya
Shuweihat
Mirfa Al Ain
Sila ADNOC Southwest
Arad

Al Ain
Ruwais Bab

Bu Hasa Wagen
Ghaythy
Madinat Zayed
Umm El Oush

Western Region Liwa

Asab

Figure 3: Transmission system

Additional transmission
developments
Major transmission system developments
The transmission system requires continuous
expansion to meet the needs of Abu Dhabi and
the Northern Emirates, as a result the following
were commissioned in 2012:
• 400/220 kV ICAD grid station in Mussafah
(1500MVA);
• 132/11 kV substation on Green Head
(120MVA);
• 132/22 KV substation in Falah City (320MVA);
and
• 220/33 kV substation at Oum Al Oush
(280MVA).
Emirates National Grid
The Emirates National Grid, which allows power
exchanges between Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai
and the Northern Emirates, underwent further
expansion in 2012 with the commissioning of:
• the 400/132KV grid station in Fujairah city
(1500MVA), this connection will increase the
cross border power transmission capability
between Abu Dhabi and Northern Emirates;
and
• double circuit 400kV OHL between Qidfa
and Fujairah city grid to connect the new
Fujairah city grid.
GCC interconnection
In 2012, the GCC interconnector demonstrated
the values of interconnection as it provided
support to all GCCIA members during generation
tripping events, hence improving system security
and support whilst reducing generation reserve
requirements. The interconnections could
facilitate opportunities for the establishment of a
GCC electricity market and energy trading in the
longer term.
In May 2012, the GCCIA conducted the power
trade forum which highlight the energy
trading opportunities in the gulf region and
possible future energy trading with external
interconnections.
TRANSCO’s 7-year planning statement review
We reviewed and approved TRANSCO’s
transmission system 7-year planning statement
in June 2012 and agreed on a list of comments
and actions to be implemented in their 2013
planning statement.
05 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012

Distribution network

The distribution system is the final stage in the Distribution network assets
delivery of electricity to end-users. As of 31
December 2012, the total number of customers No. of Capacity
ADDC distribution system units (MVA)
connected to the network was 432,167 (ADDC:
303,568, AADC: 128,599). 132/22 kV primary SS 12 3,840
132/11 kV primary SS 33 5,080
Peak demand load in 2012 was 4,645 MW for 33/11 kV primary SS 231 6,610
ADDC and 1,971 MW for AADC. ADDC recorded a 22/0.4 kV distribution SS 122 376
growth of 21% in peak demand compared to 2011,
11/0.4 kV distribution SS 13,779 17,287
whereas AADC experienced a 1.5% rise over the
same period (see Figure 4 and 5). ADDC cable /overhead line Length (km)
system
33 kV 5,747
Figure 4: ADDC maximum demand (MW)
22 kV 274
6000
11 kV 13,020
4,645
4,260

5000
0.4 kV 11,546
3,889
3,693
3,339

4000
3,099
MW

2,794

3000
No. of Capacity
AADC distribution system
2000
units (MVA)
33/11 kV primary SS 341 5,130
0
11/0.4 kV distribution SS 14,883 8,348
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

AADC cable / overhead line Length (km)

Figure 5: AADC maximum demand (MW) system
33 kV 3,648
2500
1,971
1,940

11 kV 9,531
1,799
1,683
1,562

2000
0.4 kV 10,137
1,521
1,400

1500 Note: SS = substation

MW

1000

500

0
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012
06 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012

Quality of supply
Ensuring quality of supply for end-users requires
high performance in all three stages of electricity
supply: generation, transmission and distribution.
However, distribution is by far the most significant
of these in determining quality of supply.
Since the introduction of performance indicators
in 2006, the Bureau has closely monitored the
distribution network performance of AADC
and ADDC. The Bureau also requires that an
independent audit of annual performance data
be carried out by a technical assessor each year.
After reviewing the findings of the 2012 audit, the
Bureau noted some improvements in ADDC’s
monitoring performance.
AADC’s data quality has also slightly improved,
but many of the recommendations made in the
previous year’s technical assessment audit have
not yet been implemented.
The Bureau uses the following two key
performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the
performance and reliability of ADDC and AADC
distribution systems:
• the system average interruption duration
index (SAIDI), calculated from the total
number of customer minutes lost (CML) in
any one year, divided by the total number of
connected customers (at year-end); and
• the system average interruption frequency
index (SAIFI), calculated from the total
number of customer interruptions (CI) in
any one year, divided by the total number of
connected customers (at year-end).
The distribution companies record customer
interruptions and calculate KPIs according to
specific procedures developed by the Bureau.

ADDC’s performance AADC’s performance

ADDC’s SAIDI/SAIFI figures increased from 2011 to AADC performance remained the same from
2012 (See Figure 6 and 7), mainly due to significant 2011 to 2012 (Figure 8 and 9).
increases in planned and unplanned outages in the
Eastern and Western Regions of Abu Dhabi.

Figure 6: ADDC - SAIDI Figure 8: AADC - SAIDI

220 300
205.3

265.8
204.36

180 240
261.34
187.8
184.6

185.9
173.7

220.7
157.6

120 180
SAIDI

186.86
SAIDI

165

80 120
134.65

133.2

40 60

0 0
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Figure 7: AADC - SAIFI Figure 9: AADC - SAIFI

2.5 5.0

2.0 4.0
1.99

1.89

3.6

1.5 3.0
1.77

1.74
1.65

1.71
SAIFI

1.58

2.78
2.76
SAIFI

2.63

1.0 2.0
1.92

1.45
1.45

0.5 1.0

0 0
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Over the past few years, both companies have been introducing the capability to remotely control their
systems and restore power during severe weather events, and the Bureau has recommended targeted
investment programmes for regions that have suffered consistently poor performance.
07 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012
Related events
Electricity Wiring Regulations training
Two nominated training companies continued
to provide courses on the Electricity Wiring
Regulations for private licensed electrical
contractors. The five-day course, based on a
programme developed by the Bureau, includes
both theoretical and practical elements, as well
as a final examination.
The Bureau maintains a list of registered
engineers who have successfully completed the
course (106 passed in 2012), which is available
on its website. The aim of this training initiative is
to improve the skill levels of electrical contractors
in Abu Dhabi, as well as to highlight existing
procedures for the approval and testing of wiring
in new buildings.
By the end of 2012, the certificates of registered
engineers that had first attended the course
expired (three-year validity). These engineers
were required to undertake the training once
more as a refresher and sit the examination
again.
Solar photovoltaic system installations
The Bureau established a working group with the
distribution companies and ADWEA to review
a number of solar photovoltaic (PV) system
installations in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in order
to develop technical guidelines on the PV system
approval and inspection requirements. These will
be included in the Electricity Wiring Regulations
to be revised and issued by early 2014.
In 2012, ADWEA, in partnership with Masdar
and the Bureau, looked into the issues
associated with implementing a solar PV roof
top programme in the Emirate. This initiative
captured the lessons learnt, O&M requirements
and the actual performance of a pilot
programme comprising over 2 MW of solar
roof-top systems installed in 2011.
Asset risk management review
The rapid development and associated demand
growth within the Emirate in recent years has
led the network companies to invest heavily
in network assets. In order to maximise this
investment, and avoid future acute O&M issues,
it is vital that assets and associated risks are
managed effectively.
An important aspect of this is to understand
where the network companies are in terms
of their current asset risk management
performance and then to compare their
performance to international best practice to
identify any potential areas for improvement.
A review of the network companies and
assessment of their asset risk management
performance was completed in Q3 2012.
Recommendations for improvement were
provided to the companies and the Bureau has
been monitoring their progress in developing
and completing their action plans.
AADC and ADDC’s five-year planning statement
reviews
Each year the Bureau reviews and comments
on the five-year planning statements produced
by both distribution companies. The parties
then discuss the observations of the Bureau in
order to improve the quality and format of their
statements.
Submitting these statements is a requirement
under the distribution companies’ licence
conditions. These statements enable the Bureau
to make sure the companies have planned their
network in an efficient and timely manner to
meet the forecasted load growth in the coming
5 years.
Connections process improvement
During 2012, the Bureau collaborated with
AADC and ADDC to review the companies’
existing electricity connections process, with
the aim of reducing the overall timescales
required for connection. Action items to deliver
improvements were identified and are being
implemented.
Mega developments
Mega development is a term used for large
developments where a developer builds
the water and electricity infrastructure to
the distribution company’s standards and
specifications, and transfers the assets over upon
completion. One example is the Reem Island
development.
The Bureau has been engaging with developers
and ADDC to facilitate the asset transfer of
electricity and water network infrastructure on
mega developments. In 2012, the Bureau chaired
high-level task force and technical meetings
to understand and resolve issues that were
hindering the asset transfer process.
08 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012

Health, safety & environment

Health, safety and environmental performance: water and electricity

The table below summarises the health and safety (H&S) performance of the water and electricity networks
operated by TRANSCO, AADC and ADDC during 2012.

Figure 10: Health and safety performance – 2012

Minor
Licensee WMH Fatality LTI Days lost LTIFR LTISR* AFR**
injury
AADC 8,753,016 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0

ADDC 8,734,784 1 2 4 20 0.2 2.3 0.8

TRANSCO 36,502,011 3 12 515 385 0.3 10.5 14.5

Frenquency
Total 53,989,811 4 14 519 405 0 8 10
rates
Total days lost Total accidents
LTISR = x 1,000,000 AFR = x 1,000,000
Total working man-hours Total working man-hours

Following reviews of the electricity network companies’ H&S management and operational systems and
processes in 2011, the Bureau worked with the companies to develop and implement the agreed action plans to
achieve significant improvements in H&S performance.

The Bureau also reviewed all incident reports and, where necessary, worked with the network companies to
improve future performance. Work was also carried out to improve the transparency and accuracy of reporting
and make sure what is required under the Incident Reporting Regulations (2008) is well understood.

In Q4 2012, the Bureau conducted a workshop with these companies to discuss the issues, root cause and
mitigating solutions with respect to the theft of copper conductors and earthing in the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Furthermore, the Bureau provided support to the Abu Dhabi EHS Centre in reviewing and developing codes of
practice during the year.
09 The Regulation & Supervision Bureau
Electricity Networks Technical Report 2012

Abbreviations & acronyms

AADC Al Ain Distribution Company LTI lost time injuries

ADDC Abu Dhabi Distribution Company LTIFR LTI frequency rate
ADWEC Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company LTISR LTI severity rate
AFR accident frequency rate MOSF Mussafah Steel Factory
BST bulk supply tariff MZDG Mazyad Grid
CML customer minutes lost OHL overhead line
CI customer interruption O&M operations and maintenance
DISCO distribution company PV photovoltalic
EHS environment, health and safety SAIDI system average interruption duration index
FAPCO Fujairah Asia Power Company SAIFI system average interruption frequency index
GCC Gulf Cooperation Council SNYG Sanaiya Grid
GCCIA Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority SS substation
H&S health and safety TRANSCO Transmission and Despatch Company
KPI key performance indicator TUoS transmission use-of-system
HV high voltage WMH working man hour

Units References
km kilometre • ADDC, Technical Assessment of the Price
Control Return Relating to 2012 Financial Year,
kV kilo Volt Final Report, April 2013
MVA Mega Volt Ampere • AADC, Technical Assessment of the Price
Control Return Relating to 2012 Financial Year,
MW Mega Watt Final Report, April 2013
MWh Mega Watt hour • ADDC, 5 Year Electricity Planning Statement
2014-2018, June 2013
• AADC, 5 Year Electricity Planning Statement
2013-2018, June 2013