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wiredInUSA - May 2013
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Energy utility Umeme is to install a new
insulated power cable to improve safety,
reduce energy theft and cut power losses
to about 23 percent over the year. Naked
electricity wires will be phased out to make
illegal connectionsmoredifficult toachieve.
"We have already introduced the insulated
cables in Entebbe, Nateete and Abaita
Ababiri. The ABC conductors have reduced
energy losses to 21 percent, from35 percent,
in these areas," said Selestino Babungi, the
Umeme chief financial officer.
To date 513,000 users are connected to
the electricity grid; 55,000 more than the
start of 2012. About 300 new connections
are made each day since the process was
decentralized. It now takes seven days to
get an electricity connection, compared to
14 days in 2010.
Umeme is refurbishing two substations
at Waligo in Mutundwe and Lubowa to
connect 20,000 new consumers in the
surrounding areas, and has acquired
a SCADA system to monitor electricity
usage from a central location, improving
operational efficiency.
Babungi said the 250MW Bujjagali power
dam has decreased the incidence of
power black outs, improving revenues. He,
however, added that power blackouts may
resume in the next 12 months if no additional
supply reaches the market.
"Power demand is growing rapidly at 10
percent annually. We need about 50MW to
be added on the national grid every year
until the 600MW Karuma power dam comes
online," he noted.
ASIA / AFRICA NEWS
Umeme aims to cut losses
INDEX