Electricity: network quality – the focal point of investments

Supply security with electricity: efficient infrastructure and access to basic supplies

In order to hold supply security at the current high level, EVN has defined network quality as the focal point of its investments. The expansion and maintenance of the distribution and transmission networks therefore continued during the reporting year. This agenda will also apply in the future: plans call for the investment of approx. EUR 700m in Lower Austria’s network infrastructure over the next four years. Another focus for EVN is the continuous improvement of efficiency in its power plants, above all through certifications (e. g. under EMAS). The related projects are designed to reduce both the consumption of resources and emissions from electricity generation. The CSR target discussions included the definition of concrete goals and measures to increase the efficiency of the thermal power plants, improve the coverage ratio and support further energy savings in EVN’s power plants. Information on the progress made in these areas during 2013/14 can be found in the CSR programme.

• For details on investment projects in the network infrastructure and power plants, see the following sections: Operating highlights and Segment reporting

Efficiency of long-distance lines and distribution networks

EVN’s focus in Lower Austria is on the expansion and stabilisation of the network infrastructure, while activities in Bulgaria and Macedonia are concentrated on the further reduction of network losses. Network losses¹⁾ have been cut steadily from 17% to less than 11% in Bulgaria and from 24% to less than 16% in Macedonia since market entry. In Austria, network losses remain stable at a low level of slightly over 4%. The mean supply interruption – which was calculated according to the Average System Interruption Frequency Index (ASIFI) generally used in Austria – equalled 0.71 for the 2013 calendar year. That is substantially lower than the Austrian average of 1.03. An ASIFI value of 0.71 means that EVN’s customers experience less than one power failure per year. The average annualised duration of unplanned power interruptions, as calculated according to the Average System Interruption Duration Index (ASIDI), equalled 31.53 minutes in 2013/14 and was thereby also below the Austrian average of 33.96 minutes (E-Control, press release, August 2014).

• GRI indicators: Efficiency of long-distance lines and distribution networks (EU12); Frequency and duration of power failures (EU28 and 29)

Efficiency of EVN‘s power plants

The average efficiency level (fuel utilisation as a per cent of energy production) in EVN’s natural gas-fired power plants in Austria and Bulgaria equalled 71.3%²⁾ in 2013/14. The comparable value for EVN’s coal-fired power plants averaged 50.3%.

• GRI indicator: Efficiency (EU11)

Availability of EVN’s power plants

Regular inspection and maintenance procedures are carried out to ensure uninterrupted operations and the technical safety of EVN’s power plants. These activities are connected with planned and coordinated downtime. EVN’s natural gas power plants in Korneuburg and Theiß achieved 100% availability in 2013/14, with the exception of scheduled inspections. The unplanned downtimes of the coal-fired power plants in Dürnrohr and Duisburg-Walsum equalled 0.6% and 4.7%, respectively. EVN‘s windparks were in service roughly 96% of the time during the reporting year. These windpark statistics do not differentiate between scheduled and unscheduled downtime.

• GRI indicator: Average availability of power plants (EU30)

1) A direct comparison of network losses is not possible due to the differences in the customer and network structures in EVN’s various supply areas.
2) Value weighted by capacity