Reliability Assessment of Major Feeders of the Atoabo Substation, Tarkwa Using Autorecloser-Based ETAP Simulation

Reliable Medium Voltage (MV) distribution networks are critical to economic activities in Ghana, particularly in mining-intensive municipalities such as Tarkwa, where prolonged outages impose substantial operational losses. This study evaluates the reliability performance of the 11 kV Town 1, Town 2 and Manganese feeders supplied from the Atoabo Bulk Supply Point (BSP), a strategically important node feeding high-value industrial and residential loads. Six years of outage data (2016–2021) were analysed and used to calibrate an ETAP probabilistic reliability model, addressing the absence of simulation-based reliability evaluation and automation-planning studies for Ghanaian MV distribution networks. The calibrated ETAP model replicated historical SAIFI and SAIDI values within ±5–10%, confirming strong model fidelity. Simulation results show that ACR deployment yields significant reliability improvement at SAIFI reduction of 35–40% on Town 2, SAIDI reduction of 32–35% on Manganese feeder, and overall reliability improvement of 25–30% on Town 1. The findings demonstrate that targeted MV automation at Atoabo BSP provides a cost-effective and high-impact reliability intervention, capable of reducing cumulative annual customer interruption duration by over 100 hours per feeder. This work provides an investable pathway for Electricity Company of Ghana to achieve Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission’s reliability benchmarks in similar radial distribution environments.

Reliability Analysis, Distribution Automation, Automatic Circuit Recloser (ACR)

1. Adebayo, O. and Ekpo, N. (2022), “Statistical Reliability Modelling of Medium Voltage Distribution Networks”, Nigerian Journal of Electrical Engineering, 19(2), pp. 44 - 57. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Akande, S., Abdu, M. and Oladipo, T. (2021), “Performance Analysis of MV Auto-Reclosers in West African Distribution Networks”, West African Power Journal, 7(1), pp. 22 - 34. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Chandhra, S. P., Deshpande, R. A. and Sankar, V. (2017), “Evaluation and Improvement of Reliability Indices of Electrical Power Distribution System”, National Power Systems Journal, Vol. 20, No. 5, pp. 1 – 6. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. ECG (2022), “Outage Log Sheet For 11 kV Feeders at Atoabo BSP 2016-2021”, Unpublished Atoabo Outage Statistics Data, ECG, Tarkwa, Ghana. 110 p. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Elkadeem, M. R., Alaam, M. A. and Azmy, A. (2017), “Reliability Improvement of Power Distribution Systems Using Advanced Distribution Automation”, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 24-32. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Eze, C. and Abubakar, S. (2021), “Validation Approaches for Distribution Network Reliability Models using ETAP”, International Journal of Power Engineering, 12(3), pp. 88 - 96. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Ghiasi, M., Ghadimi, N. and Ahmadinia, E. (2019), “An Analytical Methodology for Reliability Assessment and Failure Analysis in Distributed Power System”, Springer Nature Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 1 - 9. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Grainger, J. J. and Stevenson, W. D. (2016), Power System Analysis. 2nd Edition. New York, McGraw-Hill. 608 p. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Gumede, S. B. Saha, A. K. (2022), “Optimizing Recloser Settings in an Active Distribution System Using the Differential Evolution Algorithm”, Energies, 15(22), 8514. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Gupta, J. B. (2019), A Course in Power Systems. 11th Edition. S. K. Kataria & Sons, New Delhi. 1200 p. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Idowu, K., Uhunmwangho, R., Okafor, E. and Big-Alabo, A. (2021), “Reliability Improvement Study of a Distribution Network with Distributed Generation”, Applications of Modelling and Simulation, Vol. 5, pp. 53 - 65. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. IEEE Power & Energy Society (2012), “IEEE Guide For Electric Power Distribution Reliability Indices (IEEE Std 1366-2012)”, IEEE Standards Association, 4th Edition, New York. , pp. 1-43. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Kahimba, C. and Mbuli, J. (2022), “Utility Data Gaps and Reliability Challenges in Developing Power Systems”, African Utilities Journal, 9(1), pp. 55 - 69. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Kumar, T. B., Ramamoorty, M. and Sekhar, O. C. (2018), “Assessment of Reliability of Composite Power System Including Smart Grids”, Smart Microgrids, Vol. 1, No. 10, pp. 99 – 122. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Li, Z., Chen, H. and Liu, Y. (2021), “Probabilistic Reliability Assessment for Distribution Grids under Limited Data Conditions”, Electric Power Components and Systems, 49(5), pp. 424 - 438. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Manandhar, S. (2013), “Reliability Assessment of Smart Distribution System and Analysis of Automatic Line Switches”, Unpublished MSc Thesis Report, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 74 p. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Mandefro, T. and Mabrahtu, F. (2020), “Reliability Assessment and Study the Effect of Substation Feeder Length on Failure Rate and Reliability Indices”, American Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 9(3), pp. 41 - 46. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Mehdi, A., Kim, C. H., Hussain, A., Kim, J. S. and Hassan, S. J. U. (2021), “A Comprehensive Review of Auto-Reclosing Schemes in AC, DC, and Hybrid (AC/DC) Transmission Lines”, IEEE Access, No. 9, pp. 74325-74342. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Mohammed, R., Akinwale, A. and Odedele, O. (2022), “Model Validation Techniques for Distribution Grid Simulations”, International Review of Electrical Engineering, 17(2), pp. 150 - 161. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Moyo, N. and Muchemwa, C. (2023), “Distribution Automation and Reliability Performance in Sub-Saharan Utilities”, South African Journal of Electrical Power Systems, 32(2), pp. 73 - 92. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Ogunjuyigbe, A., Ighodalo, O. and Ajayi, O. (2021) “Data Quality Challenges for Reliability Assessment in African Electric Utilities”, Energy Policy Research, 15(3), pp. 112 - 123. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. PURC (2022), “Quality of Service and Reliability Benchmark Indicators for Electricity Distribution Utilities”, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ghana Report, Accra. pp. 1 - 35. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Rones, V. A. S, and Vittal, K. P. (2013), “Modeling of Recloser and Sectionalizer and their Coordination Using PSCAD”, International Conference on Circuits, Power and Computing Technologies (ICCPCT), pp. 679-684. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Singh, M. (2017), “Protection Coordination in Distribution Systems with and Without Distributed Energy Resources-A Review”, Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1-17. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Impact of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy of Listed Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
• Urban Sustainability in North-East India: A Study through the lens of NER-SDG index
• Performance Assessment of Predictive Forecasting Techniques for Enhancing Hospital Supply Chain Efficiency in Healthcare Logistics
• The Fractured Self in Julian Barnes' Postmodern Fiction: Identity Crisis and Deflation in Metroland and the Sense of an Ending
• Impact of Flood on the Employment, Labour Productivity and Migration of Agricultural Labour in North Bihar