Distribution technical loss calculation and costing for network planning and design

Network plans and designs in Eskom Distribution (the government owned utility in South Africa) have primarily been based on initial capital cost considerations. Excessive generation capacity during the past fifteen years resulted in low cost electricity and the evaluation and costing of technical losses was not a priority. The restructuring of the South African ESI and a forecasted medium term (3 years) generation shortage are drivers to incorporate technical loss considerations into distribution network planning and design. A methodology is required for the calculation and costing of energy losses in unbalanced distribution networks supplying stochastic loads.