Strategic system planning of an urban power system for 60000 inhabitants

Planning experience is documented with the practical example of the town of Singen (Germany), located to the west of Lake Constance, supplied by the Gasand Elektrizitaetswerk Singen (GEWS). Since the turn of the century, the town of Singen has had a public power supply system for what was then 2500 inhabitants. After an eventful history of remarkable urban development and industrialization, 1996 sees the power supply system celebrating the centenary of its existence. Pending system improvement measures, such as cable and switchgear requirements, the differing system operating voltages of 20 and 16 kV, different suppliers with differing HV levels of 110 and 50 kV, decisions concerning new electricity supply agreements to be concluded and preparation for increased system automation were the reasons for commissioning this system upgrade study.