Grid and Investments

We constantly invest in the power grid in our custody in Bucharest and in ten counties in the country. Digitalization is our priority for resilient grids. Our programs directly impact upon the capacity of the grid to supply ever new customers, as well as on the reduction of the duration of outages, to only recall a few benefits.

What is the power grid made up of? Well, the power grid comprises high and medium voltage transformer posts (HV/MV), medium and low substations (MV/LV), supply points, overhead and underground LV, MV, MV power lines, induction and electronic meters, metering and protection blocks to only mention a few of the grid components. The grids managed by the three Rețele Electrice companies comprise 289 HV/MV transformer substations, 99 MV/LV transformer substations and 25.213 transformer posts, totalling over 22.500 MVA overall power and distributing around 15 TWh of electricity every year, through more than 134,000 kilometres of high, medium and low voltage power lines.

Modernization programmes to the benefit of the power grid and of the consumers

We constantly carry out investment programmes for the modernization of the infrastructure, because our goal is to continuously enhance the quality of the distribution service. See below the amounts recently invested by each of our companies and our current plans. See here the news about our investments.

We continue the modernisation of the transformer substations, through their introduction in the Remote Control system and through the replacement of the power transformers and other pieces of equipment. We also modernize the power grid by replacing power lines, installing smart meters, or video surveillance of the stations to mitigate risks.

The Remote Control System is a state-of-the-art technology allowing the remote control of the switch-off and manoeuvre devices on the power grid. By implementing this technology, we considerably lower the duration of power outages and the fault remedy time, because there no longer is a need for the intervention teams to go on-site.

The smart metering system is yet another reason for pride for us. We have the largest number of smart meters installed in Romania, and in the future, we will mount such meters to cover all our customers’ needs, according to the ANRE-approved schedules. We install modern smart meters not only in the urban but also in the rural areas.

The meters are but an element of the smart metering system available on the revamped grids – the system further includes the data concentrators, which collect the information from the meters and are connected to the transformer posts. The data collected by the smart meters allow for detailed grid analyses and offer a strategic advantage when we take into account areas or grid segments that register performance below the accepted quality. Thus, we maximize the positive impact of the investments.

Smart meters help protect consumers against overvoltage. A meter that actively communicates to the central system can provide valuable information regarding the position, the type and the magnitude of possible grid incidents, reducing the intervention time and the discomfort caused to customers because some investments can be made remotely. Find out more about the benefits of these smart meters.

Video surveillance centres

For the security of our companies’ infrastructure, we have made specific investments meant to secure power stations, transformer posts, operational units, and warehouses. We have installed anti-theft, fire and/or access control CCTV surveillance systems and we take over their signals onto IT platforms. Hence, in 2016 we established three video surveillance centres in Bucharest, Constanta and Timisoara, through which we ensure the 24h/24h viewing of around 2,400 video cameras – this system is the dispatchers’ “remote eyes” and helps them make the rights decisions timely, even if it’s day or night, during the week or on weekends.

How do centers help us provide you with better services? They discourage the destruction of equipment or the equipment theft, they prevent the unauthorized access to dangerous areas, alert the intervention teams in the case of short-circuits, faults, overvoltage and shorten the intervention time, monitor maneuvers, guide the correct choice of the replacement equipment in the case of faults caused by storms, abundant snow and other such phenomena.

Technical specifications of our grids

You should know that the equipment and installations in the power plants are different for each grid operators, which is why anyone working on our grids requires specialized training. If you want to be our partner and you need the technical specifications of the equipment on our grids, you can request them through the contact form.

BANAT
DOBROGEA
MUNTENIA

Elements of the grid operated by Rețele Electrice Banat

97 HV/MV transformer substations
25 MV/MV transformer substations
8,906 transformer posts
6,605 MVA power in substations and transformer posts

Investments (PIF) made between 2019 and 2023 from our own sources

Between 2019 and 2023, E-Distribuție Banat, the current Rețele Electrice Banat made investments out of its own sources amounting to around RON 1.1 billions.

2024 Investment Plan

In 2024, we plan to invest 228 million lei in the modernisation, expansion and digitalisation of the electricity grids. Of the total value, 58 million lei are planned for modernisation works of high voltage lines and transformer stations, 60 million lei are planned for modernisation works and construction of medium voltage lines and transformer stations, and 60 million lei are planned for low voltage works. In Arad, Caras-Severin, Hunedoara and Timis counties we also plan to install around 49,000 smart meters.

Among the most important projects we will carry out in Arad county are the modernisation of the CET Arad - CFR Sofronea high-voltage line and the completion of modernisation works on the Gurahonț - Vârfuri, Maderat and Sintea Mare medium-voltage lines, supporting more than 13,000 consumers.

In Caras-Severin county, major projects include works on the Gătaia - Bocșa high voltage power line and the completion of the modernisation of the Valiug medium voltage line – supporting more than 1,300 consumers.

In Hunedoara County, we will start the modernisation works on the Baru Mare - Lonea high voltage line, with a completion date of 2025. We will also complete the modernisation works in the IRUM transformer station, a project with an impact on more than 2,000 consumers. At the same time, we will invest in increasing the security of supply in Vălișoara, by looping two medium radial power lines - a work that will support over 700 consumers.

In Timiș County, the most important projects in 2024 are:

increasing the safety of the electricity supply by installing a remote control system in the 110/20 kV Dumbrăvița transformer station - supporting more than 12,000 consumers;
works on the Timișoara - Giulvaz high voltage line;
completion of modernisation works at Azur substation, supporting more than 2,800 consumers;
start of modernisation works at Freidorf station, supporting more than 1,750 consumers;
completion of modernisation works on the Masloc medium voltage line, supporting more than 3,600 consumers;
improving the security of electricity supply to consumers in the northern area of Timișoara and adjacent localities - the work will be completed during 2025, supporting more than 15,550 consumers, including Traian Vuia airport.

Costs regarding the operation, maintenance and development of the power grids

Archive

Elements of the grid operated by Rețele Electrice Dobrogea

122 HV/MV transformer substations
74 MV/MV transformer substations
6492 transformer posts
6499 MVA power in substations and transformer posts

Investments (PIF) made between 2017 and 2021 from our own sources

Between 2019 and 2023, E-Distribuție Dobrogea, the current Rețele Electrice Dobrogea, made investments out of its own sources amounting to a total of more than RON 900 million.

2024 Investment Plan

In 2024, we plan to invest 220 million lei in the modernisation, expansion and digitalisation of the electricity networks. Of the total amount, 60 million lei are planned for works on the modernisation of high-voltage lines and the construction of new high-voltage lines, as well as the modernisation and construction of new stations. In addition, 74 million lei will be allocated for the modernisation and construction of medium-voltage lines and transformer stations, while 48 million lei will be allocated for low-voltage works. In addition, we will install more than 41,000 smart meters in Constanța, Călărași, Ialomița and Tulcea counties.

Among the most important investment projects we will carry out in Constanta are:

commissioning of the new 110/20 kV Mamaia Nord transformer station and the new 110 kV Mamaia Nord - Năvodari underground power line, supporting more than 6,500 customers;
completion of modernisation works at the Cobadin transformer station, supporting more than 6,000 customers;
further upgrading of the Năvodari substation, supporting more than 29,000 customers - works to be completed in 2025;
modernisation of line 6402 Băneasa, supporting more than 2,000 customers;
installation of bird alarms and electro-insulating sheaths on power lines in the Constanta area included in the "Life Danube Free Sky" biodiversity project.

In Călărași County, our investments will focus on upgrading the low voltage networks, by switching to overhead cable and removing meters from the property line in Oltenita, Ulmeni, Soldanu, Vasilați and Razvani, supporting more than 1,400 consumers. In Ialomita county, we will complete the modernisation works at the 110/20 kV Urziceni transformer station, supporting more than 19,000 consumers.

In Tulcea County, we will have the following investment projects:

installation of bird warnings and electro-insulating sheaths on power lines in the Tulcea area included in the Life Danube Free Sky biodiversity project;
upgrading of the low voltage networks by overhead cable and removal of meters in the locality of Greci, supporting more than of 300 consumers;
start upgrading the medium voltage power line A20 10000 fed from Sarinasuf transformer station supporting more than 1,900 consumers - the investment will be completed in 2026;
upgrading of medium voltage power line A20 10902 fed from Babadag transformer station, supporting four large consumers.

Costs regarding the operation, maintenance and development of the power grids