Reduction of Electrical Service Interruptions in Puerto Rico Energy Power Authority

Abstract

The Puerto Rico Energy Power Authority is trying to reduce the frequency and duration of interruptions of the electrical service to better serve its customers and increase profits. During the period of June 2019-April 2020 had 4.70 average interruptions per client (SAIFI), while during June 2019-May 2020 PREPA had 705.01 min average outage durations per client (SAIDI). A DMAIC project based on PREPA’s historical data was completed in order to reduce these metrics by 25%. 1,034 failing feeders were studied with two different variables, Number of Interruptions (S.I) and interruption duration index (MxC). When analyzed using a root cause analysis (Pareto Diagram) it was clear that most of the interruptions were caused by very few of the causes. These being: Broken Crossed or Open Conductor (25%), cause not Reported (21%), Unhooking (18%), and Animal or Strange object (7%) for a total of 71% of the interruptions caused by 26.67% of the causes. Another notable finding was that 77% of the total interruptions were caused by 30% of the failing feeders. After discovering this, improvements were benchmarked in order to attack the current problems that PREPA is facing. The improvements chosen (Drones and Mobile Devices) are tailored into conducting inspections faster, with less people and with readily available live information, which will reduce the duration of interruptions (SAIDI), while (Data Business Analytics team and Preventive/Predictive Maintenance) is directly associated with reducing the number of interruptions (SAIFI).