The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released the “Guidelines for Benchmarking of Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Norms for Distribution Utilities” to standardize O&M practices across the sector. The guidelines cover a wide range of areas, including equipment maintenance, cost optimization, and technology adoption.
Key highlights:
- Benchmarking Process & Maintenance Practices: Defines the benchmarking process to assess performance and efficiency, covering preventive, predictive, and reactive maintenance.
- 33/11 kV Substations O&M Benchmarking: Addresses maintenance of key equipment like power transformers, circuit breakers, surge arresters, and battery banks, with schedules, testing, and safety protocols.
- Distribution Transformers O&M Benchmarking: Focuses on inspections, maintenance, and health monitoring of transformers to enhance reliability.
- Overhead Lines & Cables O&M: Discusses maintenance of high-voltage, medium-voltage, and low-voltage lines, including underground cables and live wire practices.
- Asset & Inventory Management: Stresses the importance of ERP systems and inventory management for spare parts.
- Safety Management: Focuses on workplace safety to minimize electrical hazards.
- Roles & Responsibilities: Clarifies the duties of linemen, engineers, and senior officials in O&M.
- O&M Expense Guidelines: Analyzes regulatory practices, O&M cost estimation, and methods to optimize costs while ensuring service quality.
The guidelines also propose a hybrid approach to determining O&M expenses and encourage the use of technology, such as SCADA and predictive maintenance, to reduce failures and improve operational efficiency.
For a detailed overview, the full CEA guideline is available here.