Assessment of Power Interruptions in Addis Ababa
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Date
2015-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This research project is done for the primary purpose of assessing electric power interruptions in Addis
Ababa. Power interruption becomes a serious problem in the city in everywhere. The number of outages
is very high and it takes long time for service restoration. Due to this every aspects of business and non
business activities and day to day lives of the city residents are negatively affected and highly complained
with this problem. Moreover the power interruptions cause wastage of power or power losses
significantly. The objective of this research project is identifying the root causes of power interruption
and identifying and forwarding the appropriate remedies for the identified problems. For this end
primary and secondary data are collected, a subsequent four year power interruptions secondary data
are collected from the service provider.
A primary data is collected through open ended and close ended questionnaires, interviews and
observations. Questioner is developed for electric power customers, for the service provider distribution
and transmission operation staffs. Representative sample is determined based on random sampling
method at 95% confidence level and at 5% margin of error. As per this 384 samples is determined out of
523,944 electric power customers and 184 sample employees from a total 362 employees.
The analysis is done based on descriptive research analysis by using both qualitative and quantitative
methods. Problems identifications are also done through SWOT analysis and root cause analysis. Root
cause identifications are done through problem tree analysis. The research analysis find outs that power
interruptions, power drops and poor customer services are major problems in electric power service. The
root causes of the existing power interruptions are infrastructure capacity limitations, poor infrastructure
& design, infrastructure management problem, poor planning & forecasting, exposure of infrastructures
for theft & accidents, natural accident and water shortages. The company can minimize the power
interruption problems by upgrading power supply infrastructure capacity, improving power
infrastructure & design, improving infrastructure management practices, developing effective planning &
forecasting practices: establishing preventive maintenance systems, applying power infrastructure
rehabilitations works, supplying adequate and standard quality inputs, minimizing operational
interruptions, developing infrastructure capacities, improving human resource management Practices
and by making further studies.
Electric power interruption is power outages and blackouts due to various reasons. Frequency of power
interruption indicates the rate of occurrence or the number of repetition of the power interruptions in the
grid systems. Whereas interruption duration indicates the length of time the power
interruption continues or exists in the power grid systems.
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Keywords
Assessment of Power