Power wastage in Isfahan Province has fallen from 7.8% last year to 6.6%, said the managing director of Isfahan Province Electricity Distribution Company.
Electricity supplied from production points to end-users over long distances creates power losses along the way. The major part of the energy loss is in transformers, power lines and the energy lost as heat in conductors.
“Standardizing distribution network, using self-contained cables, replacing 20KV medium voltage cables, timely repairs and discarding malfunctioning equipment, supply lines, utility poles and electric meters are among measures taken to help reduce electricity loss,” the Energy Ministry news portal quoted Hamidreza Pirpiran as saying.
South Korea wastes the least electricity during transmission with 4.2% loss but the global average is 7.8%. Iran’s average electricity loss is 10% and the Energy Ministry has said it will reduce this to 9% by 2022.
Referring to power outages in the province during summer when consumption increases several fold, Pirpiran said, “We strive to minimize power failures and meet our target that is reducing power outages per consumer to 30 minutes a year.”
Rising consumption in the hot summer and shortage of hydropower led to blackouts in some urban areas this year.
The water crisis in central Iran has left Zayandehrud Dam with very little water and created immense difficulties for the sole hydroelectric power plant in Isfahan in summer and during the peak holiday season. The world famous ancient city has a population of five million.
“Power outages in developed countries is 12 minutes a year per subscriber. In our country the best figure is for Mashhad with 100 minutes a year. The conditions are worse in Isfahan, 250 minutes, but we are doing all we can to improve,” Pirpiran said.
Located in arid regions of Iran with below minimum precipitation, Isfahan, like many other provinces, has been struggling with drought for years, resulting in the gradual drying up of the Zayandehrud River, once the crown jewel of the region.
