CEZ Distributie is a company that spun off from the former Electrica Oltenia, which the Czech group bought and reorganized by separating electricity supply and distribution operations. The representatives of the company did not say where the new capital contribution will go.
The company is in the process of deploying smart meters and upgrading its distribution infrastructure to curb network losses, which is one of its main goals.
One of the serious challenges it is facing is electricity theft, Martin Zmelik, chief executive of CEZ Romania said a while ago. In Dolj County, for instance, one third of the power fed into the grid does not show in bills. While about 7% to 10% could be attributed to distribution process-related losses, a segment where the company could do something, the rest is illegal power consumption, he added.
That may be one of the explanations as to why CEZ consumers were the worst hit by unplanned power outages last year. According to the energy market watchdog ANRE reports, the unplanned power outages lasted nine hours in the area served by CEZ Distributie, the highest in the country. This is down from 16 hours in 2009, though.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)