Lh / D ON / s i / 0 8r 
EFFECTIVENESS OF RURAL ELECTRIFICATION 
SCHEMES TO 
ENHANCE THE LIVING STANDARD OF 
RURAL COMMUNITIES 
A dissertation submitted to the 
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Moratuwa 
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the 
Degree of Master of Science 
by 
S.D.A. Padmasiri 
Supervised by 
6 2 1 - 3 ^ 0 8 ' 
Department of Electrical Engineering 
University of Moratuwa, 
Sri Lanka 
£ I 2 O b 
January 2008 
^ University of Moratuwa 
91206 
Prof. Ranjit Perera 
.,„„„ U9PABV ~ 
UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA, SRI LANKA 
MORATUWA 
91206 
DECLARATION 
The work submitted in this dissertation is the result of my own 
investigation, except where otherwise stated. 
It has not already been accepted for any degree, and is also not being 
concurrently submitted for any other degree. 
S.D.A. Padmasiri 
I endorse the declaration by the candidate. 
Prof, nary it Perera 
i 
ABSTRACT 
Government of Sri Lanka spends large amounts of money to implement Rural 
Electrification (RE) schemes with the support of concessionary loans from various 
funding agencies such as Asian Development Bank, Japanese Bank of International 
Corporation and Kuwait Fund. The expectation of the government is to develop rural 
areas by providing electricity to those areas and enhance the living standards of rural 
people. 
The aim of this study is to investigate the implemented RE schemes and to 
examine whether the desired targets have been achieved as planned in the initial stage 
and the reasons for failures if expected results have not been achieved, and to propose 
corrective actions to overcome those problems. 
Nine RE schemes were selected from Kalutara, Monaragala and Badulla 
districts which are implemented in the period of year 1998 to year 2000 by CEB 
under Project - RE 3 funded by Asian Development Bank for investigation. 
1. Social and Economical development achieved by these schemes 
2. Technical problems related to these schemes and reliability of electricity 
supply. 
The present situations of these schemes were investigated through a structured 
survey and compared the results with expectation of the planning stage. At the 
occasions of present results are deviated from the expected targets, corrective actions 
are proposed for implementation in existing RE schemes and also in future RE 
schemes. 
The development in social and economic benefits in the villages due to rural 
electrification schemes can be summarized as, 
ii 
Achievement on economic benefits, poverty alleviation, household benefits, 
education level, community benefits and incentive to build houses are found to be 
satisfactory. Improvements on employment opportunities, small industries, 
commercial and agricultural activities and health services are found to be not 
satisfactory. Migration of villagers to urban areas was reduced and no harmful 
environmental effects are observed. 
It is further revealed that reliability of electricity supply provided for rural 
villages are not satisfactory, Energy losses are considerably high, Load factor, Power 
factor and All-day efficiency of RE substations are at acceptable levels, Safety levels 
provided by the RE schemes are fairly low, The effectiveness of RE schemes were 
considerably reduced due to above technical reasons. 
ABC (Ariel Bundle Conductor) conductors are recommended in place of bare 
aluminium conductors to minimize reliability and safety problems. Small size 
transformers are recommended to reduce overall losses and cost of implementation. 
Electronic energy meters are recommended to reduce revenue losses. 
iii 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
First I pay my sincere gratitude to Professor Ranjit Perera who encouraged and 
guided me to conduct this investigation and on perpetration of final dissertation. 
I also extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Tilak Siyabalapitiya who gave the 
project proposal and encouraged and guided me to conduct this investigation 
successfully and for valuable advice given for perpetration of final dissertation. 
I also thank to Dr. Narendra De Silva who gave the valuable instructions for 
research purposes and valuable advice given for perpetration of final dissertation. 
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to Mr. D. 
Vithanage, Deputy General Manager (UVA-Province), Mr. J.M Saman Kumara 
(System Planning Engineer-UVA Province), Mr. H.P. Kumaradasa (Electrical 
Superintendent - Commercial)-UVA Province and his staff, Mr. W.M. Premarathna 
(Electrical Superintendent-Monaragala CSC) and his staff, Mr. D.P. De Silva 
(Electrical Superintendent-Projects,D4) and his staff, Mr. R.M. Thilakarathna 
(Electrical Superintendent - Agalawatta CSC) and his staff, Mr. M.M.A. Razmi 
(Electrical Engineer - Meter testing laboratory - D4) and his staff of Ceylon 
Electricity Board who gave their co-operation to conduct the investigation works 
successfully. 
It is a great pleasure to remember the kind co-operation extended by the 
colleagues in the post graduate programme, friends and specially my wife who helped 
me to continue the studies from start to end. 
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List of tables 
Table number Description 
Table 1.0 Cost of RE Projects funded by various funding agencies. 
Table 1.1 Electrification levels in Sri Lanka as in mid 2006. 
Table 3.0 Details of the selected samples for the investigation. 
Table 4.1 
Number of industries and commercial activities started after 
electrification. 
Table 4.2 
Number of villagers who want to start industries, commercial 
activities and agricultural activities which require three phase 
electricity. 
Table 4.3 Usage of other electric items by RE consumers. 
Table 4.4 Phase loads of the feeders of RE substations. 
Table 4.5 Voltage variation along LT feeders. 
Table 4.6 
Simulation and measured results of the feeder 2 of Batahenpitiya 
substation 
Table 4.7 Expected maximum demands of RE substations at the planning stage. 
Table 4.8 
Initially expected and actual values of maximum demands of RE 
schemes. 
Table 4.9 Load factors of RE substations. 
Table 4.10 Power factors of RE schemes. 
Table 4.11 Energy losses of RE substations. 
Table 4.12 All-day efficiency of RE substations. 
Table 4.13 
Number of breakdowns occurred from Jan 07 to Aug 07 in RE 
schemes of Agalawatta, Monaragala and Mahiyanganaya CEB 
consumer services centers. 
Table 5.1 Costs of LV lines per kilometer. 
Table 5.2 
Power consumption of rural domestic consumers and assessment of 
maximum demand of RE substation. 
Table 5.3 Cost difference of 33kV / LV transformers used in RE schemes. 
V 
List of figures 
Figure number Description 
Figure 3.0 Geographical situation of selected samples. 
Figure 4.1 Monthly income levels of the families in electrified villages. 
Figure 4.2 Employment status of villagers. 
Figure 4.3 Usage of electric lamps. 
Figure 4.4 Penetration of televisions in RE schemes. 
Figure 4.5 Educational qualifications of rural villagers in electrified villages. 
Figure 4.6 Increment of electrified houses in RE schemes. 
Figure 4.7 Increment of voltage along the feeders of RE substations. 
Figure 4.8 
Voltage variation at the end of LT line when increasing line 
resistance. 
Figure 4.9 Voltage variation at the end of LT line when increasing load. 
Figure 4.10 
Voltage variation at the end of LT line when increasing (+ve) 
harmonic voltages 
Figure 4.11 Wave form of end voltage with (+ve) 3rd harmonic voltages. 
Figure 4.12 
Voltage variation at the end of LT line when increasing (-ve) 
harmonic voltages 
Figure 4.13 Wave form of end voltage with (- ve) 3rd harmonic voltages. 
Figure 4.14 Basic model of three phase LT feeder. 
Figure 4.14.1 Model of LT feeder with equivalent loads. 
Figure 4.14.2 
\TLAB simulink model of three phase LT feeder (without 
•monies). 
Figure 4.14.3 
MATLAB simulink model of three phase LT feeder {with 
harmonics) 
Figure 4.15 Demand curve of Kurupita scheme 
Figure 4.16 Demand curve of Hobariyawa scheme 
Figure 4.17 Demand curve of Rideemaliyadda scheme 
vi 
CONTENTS 
Declaration 
Abstract 
Acknowledgement 
List of Tables 
List of Figures 
Contents 
Chapter 1- Introduction 
1.1 Background 
1.2 Present Electrification Level in Sri Lanka 
1.3 The Expected Outcomes from RE schemes 
1.3.1 Economic Benefits 
1.3.2 Social Benefits 
1.3.3 Social Indicators 
1.3.4 Environmental Impacts 
1.4 Motivation 
Chapter 2 - Problem statement 
2.1 Identification of the Problem 
2.2 Objectives of the Study 
2.3 Importance of the Study 
Chapter 3 - Survey 
3.1 Introduction 
3.2 Preparation of questionnaire 
3.3 Selection of samples 
3.4 Description of the samples 
3.5 Conduct of the survey 
Chapter 4 - Impacts of Rural Electrification 
4.1 Economic benefits 
4.1.1 Employment status of villagers 
4.1.2 Development of industries and commercial activities 
4.2 Social benefits 
4.2.1 Household benefits 
4.2.2 Improvement of education 
4.2.3 Development of health facilities and community benefits 
4.2.4 Environmental effects 
4.2.5 Incentive to build houses 
Page No. 
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ii - iii 
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vii - viii 
1 - 6 
7 - 9 
1 0 - 1 5 
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4.3 Quality of electricity supply provided for rural villages 
4.3.1 Voltage variation along RE feeders 
4.3.1.1 Effects of change of line resistance 
4.3.1.2 Effects of change of load 
4.3.1.3 Effects of harmonics 
4.3.2 Load development of RE schemes 
4.3.2.1 Load pattern and demand curves of RE substations 
4.3.2.2 Load factor of RE substations 
4.3.3 Power factor of RE substation 
4.4 Energy losses in RE schemes 
4.4.1 Energy losses in RE schemes 
(beyond LT terminals of the transformer) 
4.4.2 Energy losses and efficiency of the transformers in RE schemes 
4.5 Reliability and safety of electricity supply in RE schemes 
Chapter 5 - Conclusion and Recommendation 5 0 - 5 9 
5.1 Contribution of RE schemes towards the development 
Contribution of RE schemes: 
5.1.1 to create employment opportunities 
5.1.2 to promote small scale industries, commercial 
and agricultural activities 
5.1.3 to promote household benefits 
5.1.4 to the education of rural community 
5.1.5 to promote health facilities 
5.1.6 to promote community benefits 
5.1.7 to promote housing 
5.1.8 to environmental impacts 
5.2 Technical problems and reliability of electricity supply 
5.2.1 Energy losses in RE schemes 
5.2.2 Load factor, Power factor and all-day efficiency of 
RE substations 
5.2.3 Safety related matters of RE schemes 
5.3 Recommendation 
5.3.1 Use of Arial Bundle Conductors (ABC) instead of 
bare aluminum conductors 
5.3.2 Use of 50kVA transformers instead of lOOkVA transformers 
5.3.3 Use of electronic energy meters instead of 
normal electro-mechanical energy meters 
5.3.4 Rehab i 1 itation of existing RE schemes 
References 60 
Appendix I, II & III 
viii