Analysis of Power Distribution System Reliability Indices, Niamey, Niger

Decades of reliability indices' (RI) investigation led most utility companies to rise the standard of their respective grid. Both poor power reliability and quality have devastating effects on customers. This paper attempts to estimate the RI of the Nigerien state-owned utility company, NIGELEC. The latter served over 314,570 customers in 2017. For the purpose of this study, four administrative zones, viz., Goudel, Yantala, Right Riverbank, and Koubya were selected. They have 78,945 customers altogether. The conventional RIs are no longer fit to view the extent to which daily power outages undermine the social and economic wellbeing of the residents. A new power reliability concept, “Customer Enjoy Without Interruption Index (CEWII),” was proposed; CEWII represents the exact number of days enjoyed without outage. Results revealed that CEWII was 3 days or 9.6S% for May 2014. Results also showed a SAIFI as high as 0.37 for May. In sum, repetitive outages are persisting as Niger, on three occasions, missed its chances to reach energy independence.