Network reconfiguration as a cost effective strategy for technical loss reduction on Busitema Tiira Toff.
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Date
2026-06-30
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Busitema University
Abstract
Electrical distribution networks experience the highest concentration of technical power losses within utility systems, driven by physical line properties and loading patterns. In Uganda, long radial feeders serving mixed consumer segments frequently suffer from severe voltage degradation and heavy line losses. The Busitema-Tiira 33kV T-off feeder is a critical radial infrastructure segment serving a heterogeneous load profile, including intense inductive mining loads in Tiira, residential loads across trading centers, and the Busitema University main campus. Operating under an un-optimized configuration, the feeder suffers from severe technical power losses and failure to optimally evacuate power from the local 4MW grid-connected solar plant. Traditional physical reinforcements remain capital-intensive, highlighting the need for cost-effective operational alternatives. This study investigates network reconfiguration as a low-cost strategy to optimize system performance without extensive capital asset installation. Relying on operational data from the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), a high-fidelity model of the T-off grid segment was built and validated using DIgSILENT PowerFactory and Power World Simulator. An AC power flow engine executing the Newton-Raphson method was used to establish a baseline state and locate loss hotspots. A multi-source optimization model was implemented by proposing a 33kV dedicated feeder line from the UETCL Tororo Substation, coordinated through three automated Tie Switches (Normally Open) and two Sectionalizing Switches (Normally Closed) using the Tie Open Point Optimization module. The optimization framework successfully shifted the feeder structure into an optimal radial state. Under peak conditions, active technical power losses were reduced by 41.19%, dropping from a baseline of 26.9 kW to 15.8 kW. This technical recovery translates into an annualized energy savings of 97,130.88 kWh, yielding UGX 31,878,354.82 in recovered utility revenue. The findings prove that network reconfiguration, paired with strategic automation, can drastically expand power system load-carrying capability and lower operational overhead. This approach serves as a viable, scalable operational model for electricity distribution companies across Uganda aiming to optimize efficiency on long radial feeders.
Keywords: Network Reconfiguration, Technical Losses, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, Feeder Optimization, Uganda Distribution Grid, Load-Carrying Capability
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Byonabye, M. & Atwebembire, P. (2026). Network reconfiguration as a cost effective strategy for technical loss reduction on Busitema Tiira Toff. Busitema University. Unpublished dissertation.