Electrical service quality improvement in Asunción and metropolitan area through an analysis of reliability indexes

The paper seeks to improve the quality of electric power service in Asunción and the metropolitan area through an analysis of reliability indexes. It is proposed a plan for visual inspections of airborne medium voltage power lines (23 kV), based on the performance of Metropolitan Distribution System of Administración Nacional de Electricidad (ANDE). It has been conducted a field research within the power utility to understand current methods of monitoring and evaluation of reliability indexes, and execution of visual inspections. The project was carried out between April 2014 and March 2015 in Asunción and the metropolitan area, an area that, at that time, accounts for 52.72% of electricity consumption in Paraguay. As sample, it has been considered the indexes records of 2012, 2013 and 2014, and the inspections records of 2013. By means of technical visits to collect data, it was verified that the management method currently undertaken by ANDE is not efficient nor does fulfills international standards. Under this context, it is proposed to standardize the desired improvement by quality goals on fixed lapses, with the incorporation of exclusive crews of preventive maintenance. Finally, the technical and financial evaluation of the project has confirmed that the implementation of the proposal is feasible. As recommendations, the project adaptation to other distribution system in the country and the consideration of other preventive maintenance techniques, such as thermography, are included.