Iren Group manages the electricity distribution network plants in the cities of Parma, Turin – as well as some sections of network in some municipalities in the metropolitan area and Valle Dora – and Vercelli. The size of plants owned by the Group at 31 December 2021 is summarised up in the table below:
| Distribution network plants | U.m. | Parma | Torino | Vercelli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HV/MV stations | no. | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| MV/MV primary substations | no. | - | 21 | 1 |
| MV/LV secondary substations | no. | 1,199 | 3,371 | 187 |
| HV/MV transformers | no. | 13 | 24 | 2 |
| MV/LV secondary substation transformers | no. | 1,420 | 3,146 | 302 |
| HV power lines (overhead and non-overhead) | km | - | 22 | 11 |
| MV power lines (overhead and non-overhead) | km | 927 | 2,081 | 205 |
| LV power lines (overhead and non-overhead) | km | 1,631 | 2,640 | 332 |
| Electronic meters | no. | 137,745 | 593,906 | 31,882 |
Quality of electrical distribution
Quality standards for the distribution of electricity are defined by ARERA (Res. 566/2019/R/EEL), which approved the “Integrated text on the output-based regulation of the electricity distribution and measurement services” for the 2020-2023 period, which governs the continuity of service and voltage quality, specific and general levels of commercial quality and the selective promotion of investments in distribution networks.
Indicators measuring the service levels of Iren Group, which are considered relevant due to the impacts they may have on end customers or the environment, are analysed below.
The level of network leaks within the Group is consistently below the national average. ARERA conventionally sets standard leaks for the electricity grid, defining a percentage amount of the energy withdrawn in function of voltage, with the aim of encouraging the reduction of network leaks, comparing standard leaks with actual leaks.
| Electricity network leaks | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iren Group | 2.75% | 2.91% | 4.23% |
| National averagee1 | 6.40% | 6.40% | 6.40% |
1 Most recent data available from the GSE Energy Report dated 31 December 2018.
The mean number of interruptions per LV (low voltage) customer (N1) is the indicator relevant to unexpected long (more than 3 minutes) or short- term interruptions (less than 3 minutes but more than 1 second) attributable to the distributor. The cumulative downtime (D1) measures the average number of minutes of interruption, per LV customer, of long interruptions without notice, attributable to the distributor. ARERA sets target values for these indicators concerning the size of the areas served: high concentration (municipalities with more than 50,000 residents), medium concentration (municipalities with more than 5,000 residents) and low concentration (municipalities with less than 5,000 residents). If the distributor delivers improvements in the indicators compared to the previous year, it receives a bonus from ARERA; otherwise, it may receive a sanction and the relative fine.
ARERA sets target values for these indicators concerning the size of the areas served: high concentration (municipalities with more than 50,000 residents), medium concentration (municipalities with more than 5,000 residents) and low concentration (municipalities with less than 5,000 residents). If the distributor delivers improvements in the indicators compared to the previous year, it receives a bonus from ARERA; otherwise, it may receive a sanction and the relative fine.
ARERA raised the level of the objective if, in the calculation of the average number of minutes of interruption, the distributor also includes external causes, i.e., service disruption events caused by third parties (e.g., damage to cables because of excavation work by third parties who do not operate on behalf of the distributor; service disruptions caused by failures occurring on private systems underlying the network).
| Average no. of interruptions per LV customer - N11 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ARERA obj. 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turin high-density | 1.67 | 1.47 | 1.43 | 1.25 |
| Parma high-density | 1.18 | 1.32 | 0.98 | 1.20 |
| Parma low-density | 3.36 | 4.01 | 2.23 | 4.30 |
| Vercelli medium-density | 0.62 | 0.81 | 0.75 | 2.25 |
1 2021 data are estimated. They are subject to verification and are dependent on submission to ARERA on 31/03/2022 for the 2021 financial year.
| Cumulative downtime – D1 (min./user)1 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ARERA obj. 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turin high-density | 28.29 | 26.81 | 25.70 | 28.00 |
| Parma high-density | 30.23 | 34.90 | 23.00 | 28.00 |
| Parma low-density | 75.16 | 72.90 | 48.07 | 68.00 |
| Vercelli medium-density | 11.24 | 11.57 | 8.12 | 45.00 |
1 2021 data are estimated. They are subject to verification and are dependent on submission to ARERA on 31/03/2022 for the 2021 financial year.
In 2021, an increase in the average duration of interruptions was recorded for the Turin area, linked to the complexity of the events that involved longer resolution times, while in Parma and Vercelli there was an overall improvement in the number and duration.
Iren Group, in the context of credit control, monitors the network disconnections of customers due to non-payment of bills, but does not consider it appropriate to report it, considering it as being sensitive data.
Safety of electricity distribution
The annual maintenance plan, on the secondary electricity distribution networks, provides for the inspection of medium voltage (MV) substations and overhead power lines with different articulation depending on the areas:
- inspection of electrical substations every two years for Parma and Turin and every year for Vercelli. In 2021, 2,731 out of a total of 5,546 substations were inspected (in addition to primary MV/MV substations and secondary MV/LV substations, MV delivery substations and conversion substations for tramway power supply are also included), equal to 49%;
- visual inspection of medium voltage (MV) overhead lines every three years for Parma, every six months for Turin and once a year for Vercelli. The overhead electricity network is approximately 1,378 km and, in 2021, around 14.5% was inspected.
The inspection plan, fully carried out in 2021, provides for quarterly checks of compressed air systems in the Turin area, general inspection of each system every four months, six-monthly thermographic control of the active parts of the systems, yearly control of electrical equipment containing oil with PCB>50 ppm and of the state of the asbestos manufactured articles.
Electromagnetic fields
Initiatives are implemented to safeguard the health of customers to ensure compliance with the limits of electromagnetic fields at power generation and distribution plants. Electromagnetic field measurements involve:
- primary electricity power plants and stations;
- overhead and underground HV power lines;
- MV/MV and MV/LV electricity substations installed in schools, hospitals, parks, or with specific load characteristics;
- MV/LV electricity substations with a higher capacity;
- office buildings of Group Companies.
During the inspections and on every new substation realised, the location of the substation is checked, as well as the electrical equipment it contains with respect to any sensitive adjacent buildings and to any potentially environmental and electrical hazardous situations found in the substation. In 2021, the design and construction of new MV/LV substations continued, using techniques that allow to reduce the population’s exposure to emissions from electromagnetic fields.
Acoustic impact
In the electrical energy transformation plants (substations), measurements of the acoustic emissions to the outside are carried out in order to verify the absence of situations of noise pollution towards the population. In 2021, no critical situations emerged in terms of exceeding the noise emission limits allowed by the regulations in force, so it was not necessary to implement noise mitigation systems at the primary electricity transformation plants.