Enhancing Rural Power Distribution Through Scada and GPRS Automation During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Peru

In the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic, the project focuses on optimizing the network of distribution centers to provide a dependable electrical energy infrastructure serving activities in rural Peru. The main objective is to provide a General Packaged Radio Service (GPRS)-based communication infrastructure. A SCADA (supervising control and data acquisition) graphical interface and a relational database are coupled to this system. This solution makes it possible to monitor status signals in real time, which allows for accurate and timely management of equipment for protection and reconnection. These elements are essential to the distribution network's automated fault correction. When the maximum energy consumption for 2020 was analyzed, billing figures showed a significant decrease because of the broad cessation of commercial, industrial, and service sector operations. This break was brought on by the emergency declaration made in order to handle the COVID-19-related health catastrophe. The ensuing abnormal behavior resulted in power disruptions brought on by overloads and short circuits in the system. Users had several difficulties as a result of these interruptions, which affected their telemedicine, virtual classrooms, remote employment, and other crucial activities. According to the study's findings, the automated equipment successfully logs the causes of malfunctions, the protective measures used, and the stage at which the malfunction happened. Notably, this data is recorded without having to be recorded for on-site maintenance staff. In addition, the automated system guarantees an uninterrupted supply of electricity, meeting the needs of distant operations during the continuing epidemic.