RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT OF AGULU-OKO-UMUNZE 33KV FEEDER FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION: A CASE STUDY OF OKO COMMUNITY IN ORUMBA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The major problem of electricity consumers in Nigeria is as a result of frequent power outages caused by faults on the distribution line. As it is being witnessed all around Nigeria, Oko community which is fed with the 33kV Agulu-Oko-Umunze feeder is chosen as a case study. Data containing number of faults on each feeder to different villages in Oko Community and their respective downtime were collected. These data collected were analyzed mathematically to estimate the reliability of the 33KV Agulu-Oko-Umunze feeder in Oko Community for a period of five years. The reliability indices for the year 2024 and 2025 are being considered as the base study. The outages on the 33KV feeders were studied for 24 months on daily outage data collected from the station. Based on the result obtained from the data analysis illustrated with graphs, it was deduced that dedicated feeders such as Ezioko and Eziabo have the highest reliability and more available compared to others residential feeders. This can be attributed to the level of their load demands. Generally, the feeders have least reliability during the period of May to October due to high dependence of students during the academic periods. The researcher carried out this research due to the frequent outages the community always experience due to the presence of high density of student’s hostels and lodges.