Continuity of Supply in the Portuguese Distribution
Network and Comparison with other European
Sergio Faias
ERSE - Entidade Reguladora dos Servic;:os Energeticos
ISEL - Lisbon Engineering Superior Institute
INESC ID
Lisbon, Portugal
sfaias@erse.pt
Abstract-In the present paper, the evolution of the continuity of
supply in the Portuguese distribution network is
considering different performance indices, such as the number
and duration of planned and unplanned interruptions. For the
unplanned interruptions, special attention is given
contribution of exceptional events. The continuity of supply
performance of the Portuguese distribution network is then
compared with the European average performance. In addition,
the different countries are clustered according to technical
characteristics of their networks and the continuity of supply
indicators of each cluster are compared. The main conclusions
of the paper are (i) that the Portuguese distribution network has
significantly improved its performance during the last 10 years
and still has potential for improvement; and (ii) that technical
characteristics, namely the degree of undergrounding, are an
important determinant of technical quality measured by existing
indices.
Index Terms- Benchmarking, continuity of supply, electricity
distribution, regulation.
I. INTRODUCTION
The liberalization of the electricity sector establishes the
separation of basic functions of electricity generation,
transmission, distribution and supply (or retailing). However,
while in the generation and supply functions a potential for
competition exists, in the transmission and distribution
networks, their natural monopoly nature requires regulation to
induce optimal price and quality of service [1]-[3].
The quality of service regulation, with its three
dimensions, continuity of supply (network reliability and
availability), voltage quality (characteristics of the supply
voltage) and commercial quality (timeliness in dealing with
customers' requests) provides a balance between customers'
willingness to pay network tariffs and their expectations on
minimum levels of quality of service. This topic became more
relevant with the evolution from a rate-of-return economic
regulation, in which total utility costs were fully recouped by
the tariff, to a price-cap regulation, wherein, with the objective
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad de Talca. Downloaded on November 02,2023 at 00:38:26 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Countries
Jorge Esteves
ERSE - Entidade Reguladora dos Servic;:os Energeticos
Lisbon, Portugal
jesteves@erse.pt
of improving the utilities' economic efficiency, their allowed
analyzed revenues are capped in a level that does not necessarily reflect
the actual costs, leading firms to avoid investments and
consequently to decrease the quality of service provided to
to the customers [2], [4], [5].
This regulation, namely in what concerns continuity of
supply dimension, can be exercised with recourse to a set of
direct and indirect instruments such as the definition of
minimum standards for the continuity of supply indicators and
respective individual monetary compensations, financial
incentive schemes, regular reporting of continuity of supply
indicators and national and international benchmarking [2],
[3], [6].
In order to simulate a competitive environment and
contribute to the continuity of supply performance
improvement of regulated companies, the different standards,
monetary compensations and fmancial incentive parameters
should be periodically adjusted in accordance with the
evolution of the continuity of supply performance.
In this regard, integrated in the preparatory work carried
out for the revision of the Portuguese quality of service code,
scheduled for the fIrst semester of 2013, this paper presents an
analysis of the Portuguese distribution network performance
evolution in what concerns continuity of supply and compares
this evolution with the performance of other European
countries. Thus, in the paper, the main instruments applied to
the continuity of supply regulation in Portugal are initially
described. Following, the evolution of some of the Portuguese
continuity of supply indicators are analyzed for the period
2001-2011 and compared to the average performance of some
European countries represented in the Council of European
Energy Regulators (CEER). Finally, the different countries are
clustered according to technical characteristics of their
networks and the continuity of supply indicators of each
cluster are compared.
 II. CONTINUITY OF SUPPLY REGULAnON IN PORTUGAL
In Portugal, the fIrst steps of the electricity sector
liberalization started in 1995. As result, with the objective of
defming the minimum quality of service standards that utilities
should provide to customers and the practices used to monitor
the compliance with those standards, the government
published the fIrst Portuguese code on the quality of electricity
supply in the year 2000. This code, comprising the continuity
of supply, voltage quality and commercial quality dimensions
was revised in the years 2003 and 2006 [7].
Until 2012, the role of Portuguese national regulatory
authority for energy services (ERSE) on the quality of
electricity supply subject was limited to the supervision of
compliance with the quality of electricity supply code and to
the defInition of regulatory incentives for improvements in
continuity of supply. However, new legislation, published in
September and October 2012, transferred to ERSE the power
to prepare and approve the national regulatory framework on
the quality of electricity supply. In this regard, ERSE is
promoting a revision of the quality of supply code, scheduled
for 2013.
A. Indicators for the Continuty of Supply Characterization
The regular operation of distribution networks can be
disrupted by several internal (malfunctions of network
equipment) or external sources (as for instance extreme
atmospheric phenomena) that usually result in interruptions of
the customers electricity supply.
The measurement of actual continuity of supply levels
through indicators and standards constitutes one of the basic
instruments for regulating continuity of supply [2]. In the
Portuguese quality of electricity supply code, a set of
indicators to measure the number and duration of long term
interruptions (over 3 minutes) are defIned. Those main
indicators are:
• TIEPI MV - Average duration of interruptions in
medium voltage per installed capacity, per year;
• END - Energy not distributed due to interruptions, per
year;
• SAID! MV - Average duration of interruptions in
medium voltage per customer, per year;
• SAIFI MV - Average number of interruptions in
medium voltage per customer, per year;
• SAIDI LV - Average duration of interruptions in low
voltage per customer, per year;
• SAIFI LV - Average number of interruptions in low
voltage per customer, per year.
SAID! and SAIFI indicators, mainly focused in the
domestic customer perspective (weighted by the number of
customers), are those used in most European countries to
characterize the continuity of supply. In addition, in Portugal
and Spain, TIEPI MY is used to characterize the continuity of
supply of industrial customers, since it is weighted by the
installed capacity, and used for distribution network planning
purposes by the operators [8].
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad de Talca. Downloaded on November 02,2023 at 00:38:26 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
B. Standards and Individual Monetary Compensations
Standards for continuity of supply indicators and
individual monetary compensations resulting from
noncompliance with the standards are considered in the
quality of electricity supply code. Those standards, expressed
in the form of limits to the number and duration of
interruptions experienced by each customer per year, represent
a commitment of the company with their customers to
maintain a certain level of quality of supply. Whenever
individual limits are exceeded, customers must be informed
and monetary compensations must be paid. Since individual
monetary compensations paid to customers should act as a
stimulus to the company to improve its continuity of supply,
the total amount of monetary compensations annually paid to
customers is subtracted to its allowed revenues.
Considering that the demography, as well as technical
characteristics of the distribution network, is not homogeneous
along the country, different standards are defIned according to
three kinds of areas, urban, sub-urban and rural. In urban areas
it is assumed that the distribution network mainly comprises
underground cables in LV and MY and, as such, more
demanding standards are prescribed. On the other hand,
standards for rural areas are less demanding, since the
respective MV and LV networks are characterized by long
overhead lines often exposed to the elements. Sub-urban areas
represent a transition zone between rural and urban areas. In
this sense, standards for continuity of supply indicators are in
between those defmed for urban and rural areas.
C. Incentive for the Continuity ofSupply in the Distribution
Network
In the quality of electricity supply code, in complement to
standards and individual monetary compensations, incentive
schemes comprising revenue increases (rewards) and
decreases (penalties) can be developed. Portugal is considered
one of the pioneers in Europe regarding the implementation of
an incentive for the continuity of supply in the distribution
network [6], [9].
ERSE implemented this incentive scheme in 2003 in order
to stimulate a perfonnance increase in the medium voltage
(MV) distribution network. The incentive scheme is based on
historical values of the energy not distributed (ENDret)
indicator. As presented in Fig. 1, a dead band (ENDref ± L1V)
is used to avoid the incentive activation when small
performance improvement or deterioration is experienced. On
the other hand, in order to avoid overstating the impact of the
incentive on the company economic results, maximum amount
of reward (RQSmax) and penalty (RQSmin) are defIned.
Reward and penalty limits are symmetric and, at moment, its
value is fIxed at 5 million euro. When the performance
improvement or deterioration is placed between the dead band
boundaries and the reward and penalty limits, the amount of
the incentive is computed based on the valorization of the
energy not distributed (VEND), 1.5 euro/kWh.
 TABLE T. OVERALL LINES LENGTH (KM)
€
Voltage Level
Lines
HV MV LV
Overhead 8592 58 133 106 744

Underground 522 16 009 32 627

END (kWh )
END RE F-t,v
TABLE I!. SUBSTATIONS AND TRANSFORMERS

RQSmin
Capacity
Voltage Level Number
Figure I. Incentive scheme for the continuity of supply in MV network. (MVA)
HVIMV
D. Reporting and Benchmarking Quality ofElectricity Substations 411
and 16 809
Supply
My/MV Transformers 721
One of the indirect instruments of the quality of electricity
supply regulation is the systematic publication of information MV/LV Transformers 64 458 19 417
about networks performance and benchmarking those results
between different companies [3].
The percentage of underground cables in the MV grid is
In this regard, the present Portuguese quality of electricity
22%, mainly corresponding to the supply of MV/LV
supply code requires network operators to publish an annual
transformers placed in urban and sub-urban areas. In the LV
report including information about their performance,
grid, the percentage of underground cables is similar to MY,
expressed by different indicators defined for continuity of
23%, also corresponding to the supply in urban and sub-urban
supply, voltage quality and commercial quality, and including
areas.
information about number and amount of monetary
compensations to customers that result from noncompliance Regarding the annual investment in the Portuguese
with minimal quality standards. Also a description of the distribution network, at 2011, capital expenses (CAPEX) and
events that led to the main interruptions occurred over the year operational expenses (aPEX) corresponded to about
must be included in the report. The report on the quality of 83 euro/customer and 70 euro/customer, respectively.
electricity supply of each company must be available on its
website. B. Evolution ofPlanned and Unplanned Interruptions

The evolution of the continuity of supply performance of

In addition, an annual report comprising the evaluation of
the Portuguese distribution network is analyzed next, based on
the utilities' performance is published by the national
empirical data reported by the distribution network operator to
regulatory authority. This report is made available on its
ERSE. In this context, planned interruptions are those usually
website and disseminated by different stakeholders, namely
resulting from predictive maintenance and imply customers to
customer associations.
be informed in advance in order to mitigate their potential
In what concerns benchmarking the continuity of supply impacts. All the other interruptions are considered as
performance, only international benchmarking is possible unplanned interruptions.
since the Portuguese mainland distribution network is
The duration and the number of planned and unplanned
operated by one large utility that supplies almost all
interruptions experienced by LV customers between 2001 and
customers. In this regard, ERSE participates in the elaboration
2011 are presented in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, respectively. In
of the European benchmarking reports published by CEER.
general, during this period, there is a decreasing trend on the
III. PORTUGUESE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK PERFORMANCE number and duration of the all kind of interruptions
experienced by LV customers.
A. Network Characterization

The Portuguese distribution network, comprising HV, MV
and LV, is operated by one large company supplying
approximately 6.1 million customers (99.5% of overall). The
remaining 0.5% customers are supplied by 10 other small
companies operating exclusively in LV.
The main characteristics of the distribution network at
2011 are presented in Table I and Table II. In HV, the grid is
operated at 60, 130 and 150 kV voltage levels and presents a
high level of automation and self-restoration. In what concerns
the MY grid, the voltage levels in operation are 6, 10, 15 and
30 kV, with a lower level of automation than in HV.
In what concerns planned interruptions, since 2007 the
average number of interruptions experienced by customers is
lower than 0.1 interruptions/year while in the case of planned
interruptions duration, average values do not exceed 2
minutes/year since 2008. The involved network operator
explains that such small number of planned interruptions is
not the result of a reduction on predictive maintenance
investment, clarifying that this good performance is due to the
systematic recourse to live working and the use of portable
generators to supply customers that otherwise would be
interrupted.

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad de Talca. Downloaded on November 02,2023 at 00:38:26 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 600 330
307.3
It. Planned Interruptions - TIEPI MVREF+DV
300
500 o Unplanned Excl. Exceptional Events 263.0 o TIEPI MVREF
270
•
• Unplanned Incl. Exceptional Events 222.1
.. 240 - TlEPI MVREF-OV
� 400 • ..
•
t 210 o o o • Actual TIEPI MV

� 300
11
1;) 180
�
J!!
.3I/> 150
:>
c 200 J!! 118,1 113,5 113,8
� g 120 • • & 91.8 93.3 91,0
o
100
R2=O,7815 � 90 o
� & .!.
'.' o
.. 80,0
.£ '0
.. 60 'i'

30 55.8
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
o +---�--�--�
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Figure 2. Duration of planned and unplanned interruptions experienced by
LV customers.
Figure 4. Application of the incentive mechanism on continuity of supply.

.. Planned Interruptions In general, the results show that the implementation of the
o Unplanned Excl. Exceptional Events
incentive mechanism combined with the effort of the
• Unplanned Inc!. Exceptional Events
distribution company has contributed for the continuity of
supply performance improvement of the Portuguese network.

•
Since 2003, when the incentive mechanism was
• implemented, the company has received a reward in 4
o
different years, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2011. On the other
hand, in 2006, 2009 and 2010, a continuity of supply
performance that deviated from the incentive mechanism
targets resulted in penalties payment. In the remaining years,
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 the performance was within the dead band and, as such, no
reward or penalty payments have occurred.
Figure 3. Number of planned and unplanned interruptions experienced by
LV customers. IV. COMPARISON WITH OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Benchmarking the continuity of supply performance is one

The correct balance between benefits from the better
performance due to these practices and the increase of the
related operational expenses must be assured.
Regarding the unplanned interruptions, an improvement
has been experienced in the last 10 years, namely between
2001 and 2007, period in which a 60% reduction in the
number of interruptions and 75% reduction in their respective
duration is observed. However, the trend line presents some
stagnation after 2008, as a consequence of the depreciation of
the continuity of supply performance observed in the period
2008 to 20lO. In the year 2011, mainly due to unusual very
favorable weather conditions, the continuity of supply
indicators improved and the lowest number and duration of
unplanned interruptions is reached since the continuity of
supply indicators reporting began.
An analysis of the unplanned interruptions evolution also
highlights the recurrent impact of exceptional events on the
number and duration of interruptions experienced by LV
customers, contributing for 20 to 40% of the unplanned
interruptions duration every year. This fact becomes relevant
because the concept of exceptional events should refer to
incidents external to the grid with a considerably small
probability to occur.
The application of the incentive mechanism on continuity
of supply is presented in Fig. 4. In this case, for a most
comprehensive analysis and due to the direct relation with the
END, the performance of the continuity of supply is expressed
by the TIEPI MV indicator.
of the instruments available for the quality of electricity
supply regulation. However, as referred previously, for the
Portuguese distribution network only international
benchmarking is reasonable. In this regard, the evolution of
the continuity of supply indicators from the Portuguese
network is compared with the performance of the other CEER
members published in the 5th CEER Benchmarking Report on
the Quality of Electricity Supply (2011).
CEER Benchmarking Reports on the Quality of Electricity
Supply are the result of periodical surveys and analyses
performed by national regulatory authorities that are CEER
members. The first report was issued in 2001, followed by the
second, third and fourth editions in 2003, 2005 and 2008
respectively. The 5th CEER Benchmarking Report on the
Quality of Electricity Supply comprises data from 1999 to
2010 and, as presented in Fig. 5, the countries involved were
Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic,
Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Also Swiss national regulatory
authority provided information on continuity of supply and
voltage quality aspects for this 5th edition of the report. In
addition, an annex was added with quality of service
performance from the Energy Community Regulatory Board
(ECRB), comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova,

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad de Talca. Downloaded on November 02,2023 at 00:38:26 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 600

+/-50 Europe

500

�
.9
400

300

�
�
200

100

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Figure 6. Duration of overall (planned and unplanned) interruptions

experienced by Portuguese and European LV customers.

Figure 5. European countries involved in the 5th CEER Benchmarking

Report on the Quality of Electricity Suplly [8].
+/- SD Europe

Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine and United Nations Interim �AverageEurope

Administration Mission in Kosovo. �Portugal

Considering that for benchmarking purposes, long time­

series are preferable, the Portuguese continuity of supply
performance is only compared with the 16 countries involved
in the fourth edition of the CEER Benchmarking Report,
namely Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,
Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Spain and Sweden [10]. In order to evaluate
how far the Portuguese performance compares with these 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

European countries, for each indicator, besides the 16

countries average, also a band containing 1 standard deviation
(SD) away from the average is considered. Assuming that the
data dispersion follows a normal distribution, 68% of
countries with indicators closer to the average are within this
standard deviation band.
For a most comprehensive approach, the comparison
between the Portuguese and European performance on the
continuity of supply comprises the indicators analysis of the
overall interruptions experienced by customers and the
respective desegregation in planned interruptions, unplanned
interruptions excluding exceptional events and unplanned
interruptions with origin in exceptional events.
A. Overall Interruptions
The duration and the number of all interruptions (planned
and unplanned) experienced by Portuguese and European LV
customers are compared in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.
In what concerns the interruptions duration, the European
average presents a slight trend of reduction between 1999 and
2010. This trend is not clearly followed by the number of
interruptions, in which the average value keeps almost
constant for the period analyzed.
Regarding the Portuguese distribution network
performance is observed a considerable convergence towards
European average in the period 2001-2004, in which the
minutes lost per year have been reduced to a half. Between
2004 and 2008 the performance of the Portuguese distribution
network was worse than in the most European
Figure 7. Number of overall (planned and unplanned) interruptions
experienced by Portuguese and European LV customers.
countries. However, in 2011, according to data available, the
convergence with the European average is resumed. For the
overall number of interruptions, in spite of the convergence
observed in the last 10 years, a gap between the Portuguese
and the European average performances still exists.
B. Planned Interruptions
According to available data, the number and duration of
planned interruptions in Portugal, as presented in Fig. 8 and
Fig. 9, is very small when compared with the European
average. This unusual performance, as referred previously, can
be justified by the resource to live working and the use of
portable generators. However, it is not clear why utilities from
the other European countries are not following these practices.
In this sense, further possible reasons for such disparity on the
number and duration of planned interruptions should be
considered, as for instance the use of non harmonized criteria
for the interruptions classification or different approaches in
what predictive maintenance is concerned. A more
comprehensive approach on this topic is only possible with
more data available for the different European countries,
namely the respective regulation model and the composition
of the utilities OPEX and CAPEX values.
C. Unplanned Interruptions
The duration and the number of unplanned interruptions
excluding exceptional events experienced by Portuguese and
European LV customers are presented in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11.

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad de Talca. Downloaded on November 02,2023 at 00:38:26 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 300 450

+/- SOEurope +/- SO Europe

400
250 ....... AverageEurope �AverageEurope
350
�Portugal � �Portugal
�
200 � 300
� �
...
...
�
250
.9
� 150
200
�
�
� 100 � 150
�
100
50
50

+--1---r--+-�---+--+--+��--��-'�.�
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Figure 8, Duration of planned interruptions experienced by Portuguese and Figure 10, Duration of unplanned interruptions excluding exceptional events
European LV customers, experienced by Portuguese and European LV customers,

2,0

+/- SD Europe
1,8 +/- so Europe

1,6 �AverageEurope
�AverageEurope
�
1,4 ___ Portugal
� �Portugal
�
... 1,2
c
0
1,0

l 0,8

� 0,6

0,4 �-
-�----­"--
-....
. _---
0,2

0,0 ��
+--+--��---r--r--+--+-����r4-r�
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Figure 9, Number of planned interruptions experienced by Portuguese and Figure I I, Number of of unplanned interruptions excluding exceptional
European LV customers, events experienced by Portuguese and European LV customers,

In both indicators, duration and number of interruptions, a
decreasing trend in the European average is observed for the
period 1999-2010, Also the standard deviation band presents a
tendency to become narrower in this period, which means that
more countries present values closer to the average,
In what concerns the Portuguese distribution network is
concerned, in spite of the convergence towards European
average observed, the number and duration of unplanned
interruptions excluding exceptional events remain outside the
standard deviation band,
D. Exceptional Events
The analysis of the Portuguese distribution network
performance has shown a considerable contribution of
exceptional events for the continuity of supply indicators.
Therefore, in order to compare the Portuguese and European
realities, their respective duration and number of unplanned
interruptions with origin in exceptional events are presented in
Fig. 12 and Fig. 13,
The number and duration of interruptions with origin in
exceptional events in European countries are in line with the
expectations for such continuity of supply indicators, Thus, a
reduced number of interruptions are observed that, due to their
uncontrollable and severe nature, result in very long
interruptions. It is also observed that different countries are
responsible for the occurrence of exceptional events
experienced each year. This is the case of Italy at 2003,
Lithuania at 2005 and 2007 and, Spain and Lithuania at
20IO,Regarding the comparison between Portuguese and
European performances, for the duration of unplanned
interruptions with origin in exceptional events a convergence
trend is observed. However, for the number of interruptions, a
considerable gap still exists between Portugal and European
average that can be justified by different definitions of
exceptional events adopted in each European country, as
discussed in [10] and [11].
E. interruptions with origin in Distribution Networks
Planned and unplanned interruptions with origin in
distribution networks, excluding exceptional events, are the
responsibility of the network operators. In this sense, a
different utilities comparison on continuity of supply
performance, as presented in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, should
include interruptions with the origin in their networks.
The results show a trend of decreasing the duration of
interruptions in the European average. This is not the case in
the number of interruptions, which presents some stability.

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad de Talca. Downloaded on November 02,2023 at 00:38:26 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 200 600

+/-50 Europe +/- SDEurope

180
......AverageEurope 500 .......AverageEurope
160
Portugal
�
� ___
�Portugal
� 140
� 400
� c.
� 120
�
.9 100 ID 300

�
� 80
�
� 200
60

40
100

20

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Figure 12. Duration of unplanned interruptions with origin in exceptional Figure 14. Duration of planned and unplanned interruptions excluding
events experienced by Portuguese and European LV customers. exceptional events experienced by Portuguese and European LV customers.

3,0

+/-50 Europe
+/- SD Europe
2,5 �AverageEurope
...... AverageEurope
�Portugal
�
2,0 � �Portugal
� �
c. 5
�
c.

f
� 1,5
0

I 1,0 �
0,5

. .---.... .�
0,0 +-->----+---+-->---<
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Figure 13. Number of unplanned interruptions with origin in exceptional Figure 15. Number of planned and unplanned interruptions excluding
events experienced by Portuguese and European LV customers, exceptional events experienced by Portuguese and European LV customers,

Regarding the Portuguese distribution network respectively, while cluster B comprises, from the remaining
performance, a considerable convergence toward European countries, those with similarities to Portugal, such as a
average duration of interruptions is observed since 2004, In percentage of underground cables between 10% and 40% in
2009 and 2010, in spite of performance deterioration, the MV network and between 20% and 40% in the LV network.
duration of interruptions is still within the standard deviation Furthermore, in cluster B only countries involved in the fourth
band. However, in what concerns the number of interruptions, edition of the CEER Benchmarking Report are included.
in spite of the convergence observed in the last 10 years, a
The average duration and number of overall interruptions
potential for improvements is identified,
experienced by LV customers from some of the clusters
V, CLUSTERlNG EUROPEAN COUNTRlES ACCORDlNG TO defined are presented in Fig. 17 and Fig. 18,
THE NETWORK TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS 100

Technical characteristics of distribution networks have 90

considerable influence in their continuity of supply 80

Germany
performance. In this sense, benchmarking continuity of supply � Spain •
> •

performance of distribution utilities in a national or ::;:

70
luxem urg:
�
�
60
international level should also take into account some of those :;;
" Austria
.
u
SO Great Britain
technical characteristics, as for instance the percentage of '"
c
"
•

weden
•

underground cables existing in the network. Since e 40

�
'"
underground cables avoid exposing network to the elements, '"
c
30
:::> Czech Rep.
the higher the percentage of underground cables the better the 20
•

continuity of supply performance expected. 10

Greece
.

Therefore, according to the percentage of underground

10 20 30 40 so 60 70 80 90 100
cables existing in LV and MV distribution networks, available
Underground Cables LV (%)
in [8], the different European countries are clustered. As
presented in Fig. 16, two different clusters, A and B, are
Figure 16. Clustering European countries according to the percentage of
assumed; cluster A refers to countries with percentage of underground cables existing in LV and MV distribution networks,
underground cables over 50% and 70% in MV and LV

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad de Talca. Downloaded on November 02,2023 at 00:38:26 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 600 during the last 10 years. When compared to the average of the
�AverageEurope CEER countries, in what concerns planned interruptions, the
500
_Portugal Portuguese network presents one of the best European
M

� -i:r-ClusterB
performances. On the other hand, for the unplanned
i 400
interruptions a considerable potential for improvements in the
-o-Cluster A
.9 Portuguese network was identified.
QJ 300
,
o
A particular attention was also given to the unplanned
:1
200 I interruptions with origin on exceptional events. It was
I
� I observed that in Portugal these events frequently account for
, � I
100
'0-/ .... '0--0. .... -.6
"­
'0--0_-0 more than 20% of the number and duration of unplanned
interruptions. These results suggest that a greater
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
harmonization between Portugal and the other European
countries should be carried out.
Figure 17. Duration of overall (planned and unplanned) interruptions
experienced by LV customers from the different clusters. Finally, it was also concluded that a comprehensive
benchmarking should take into account the different technical
characteristics of the networks and clustering countries
�AverageEurope according to the percentage of underground cables in MV and
_Portugal LV could be a good approach to achieve that.
-i:r- Cluster B

-0- Cluster A

REFERENCES
[II J. Roman, J. Gomez, A. Munoz, and J. Peco, "Regulation of
distribution network business," iEEE Trans. POlVer Delivery, vol. 14,
pp. 662-669, Apr. 1999.
[21 V. Ajodhia, and R. Hakvoort, "Economic regulation of quality in
electricity distribution networks," Utilities Policy, vol. 13, pp. 211-221,
Sep. 2005.
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
[31 D. Giannakis, T. Jamasb, and M. Pollitt, "Benchmarking and incentive
regulation of quality of service: an application to the UK electricity
distribution networks," Energy Policy, vol. 33, pp. 2256-2271, Nov.
Figure 18. Number of overall (planned and unplanned) interruptions
2005.
experienced by LV customers from the different clusters.
[41 V. Ajodhia, L. Schiavo, and R. Malaman, "Quality regulation of
electricity distribution in Italy: an evaluation study," Energy Policy,
It is observed that countries with higher percentage of vol. 34, pp. 1478-1486, Sep. 2006.
underground cables (cluster A) typically present number and [51 E. Fumagalli, P. Garrone, and L. Grilli, "Service quality in the
duration of interruptions lower than the European average. electricity industry: the role of privatization and managerial behavior,"
The gap between performances is even more pronounced Energy Policy, vol. 35, pp. 6212-6224, Dec. 2007.
[61 E. Fumagalli, L. Lo Schiavo, and F. Delestre, Service Quality
when comparing average values of cluster A with cluster B.
Regulation in ElectriCity Distribution and Retail, Berlin: Springer,

In what concerns the Portuguese distribution network 2007.

performance, it is observed that the duration of interruptions is
in line with countries with similar technical characteristics
(cluster B) since 2004. However, in what concerns the number
of interruptions, the Portuguese distribution network usually
presents worse performance than cluster B.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, integrated in the preparatory work carried out
for the revision of the Portuguese quality of electricity supply
code, scheduled for 2013, the evolution of the continuity of
supply in the Portuguese distribution network was analyzed
and compared with the performance of other European
countries represented in CEER.
[71 ERSE - Entidade Reguladora dos Servi<;os Energeticos, Electricity
Liberalisation [Online]. Available: http://www.erse. ptlenglPaginas
IERSE.aspx
[81 CEER - Council of European Energy Regulators, "5th CEER
Benchmarking Report on the Quality of Electricity Supply (20 I I)",
Brussels, Apr. 2012.
[91 c. Growitsch, T. Jamasb, C. MOiler, and M. Wissner, "Social cost­
efficient service quality - Integrating customer valuation in incentive
regulation: Evidence from the case of Norway", Energy Policy, vol. 38,
pp. 2536-2544, May. 2010.
[10] CEER - Council of European Energy Regulators, "4th CEER
Benchmarking Report on the Quality of Electricity Supply (2008)",
Brussels, Dec. 2008.
[11] A. Falcao and M. Bollen, "Exceptional events and force majeure events
and their use in the electricity sector," in Proc. 2009 CIRED
International Conference on Electricity Distribution, paper no. 233

From the paper results, it may be concluded that the

Portuguese distribution network has improved its performance

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad de Talca. Downloaded on November 02,2023 at 00:38:26 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.