Suciu also said that for 2023, the investments are on the chart.
Under the valid legislation, DEER has recovered and completed, until June 30, 2023, the investment works started in the past years, so that the final value of the investment works related to 2022 is RON558 million. The value of the investments made on December 31, 2022 amounts to RON463 million, accounting for about 83% of the planned value.
“2022 was a very difficult year, with many challenges and critical situations, and the lack of cashflow was one of the biggest problems. The fact that Romania’s energy regulator ANRE decided this year to increase distribution tariffs, as required by law, allows us to implement an ambitious investment plan, which is more than 15% higher than the one in 2022 (…). We have projects co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund through the Large Infrastructure Operational Program (POIM), from the Modernization Fund, from the PNRR. We are accessing hundreds of millions of lei and we are considering doing so in the future, as we target at least EUR300 million”, said Mihaela Rodica Suciu, General Manager of DEER.
The company’s investments ensure an increase in the performance of the electrical distribution network, considering that each completed project leads to obtaining at least one of the following benefits: improving service performance indicators, in compliance with legal provisions and contractual provisions, improving the energy efficiency of network by reducing own technological consumption (CPT) and reducing operation and maintenance costs (OPEX).
The investment works carried out last year led to the modernization/development of the categories of electrical installations/equipment that make up the electrical distribution network.
The SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency – the index regarding the average frequency of interruptions in the network for a user) has improved. “Even if we still have a lot to work and invest, I must emphasize that, for example, the duration of unplanned interruptions (SAIDI), at the level of the three distributions within DEER (North and South Transilvania and North Muntenia) was reduced in 2022, compared tof 2021, by 166.77 minutes, i.e. by almost 3 hours! Also, the number of accidental stops (SAIFI) decreased significantly, DEER being at an average level or even higher than that recorded at the country level, both in urban and rural areas.
“All these improvements of the main indicators, all the performances achieved also in terms of improving the energy efficiency of the network, as well as the reduction of operating costs, were made with the sustained efforts of the DEER team, with commitment and responsibility, because we honor our commitments ”, pointed out Mihaela Rodica Suciu.
DEER, as a distribution operator, is tasked with developing, upgrading and rehabilitating the electrical networks in its concession areas, in compliance with the legislation and technical regulations in force, under economic conditions, so as to guarantee the long-term ability to ensure the continuity of the distribution service, its technical quality and to meet reasonable requirements or connection to the distribution network.