An optimal maintenance scheduling model for the transmission division of Eskom

Abstract

With the current demand for greater electricity output, Eskom has had to find ways of improving productivity and efficiency. Consumer demand is only part of the problem as a backlog of maintenance has reduced the electricity output considerably. With switchgear being non-operational, the power stations cannot generate enough electricity to meet demands. The Transmission (TX) divisions’ maintenance team must decide upon the optimal usage of planned outages (maintenance opportunities) at the Hendrina power station, situated in Mpumalanga. The power station is owned by the Generation (GX) division who control the frequency of these planned outages to allow maintenance to occur. TX therefore don’t have the ability to freely conduct maintenance anytime they need to. Occasionally Generations’ equipment will fail and result in unplanned outages which TX may or may not use for maintenance. By developing a Dynamic Programming model to aid TX in decisions concerning circuit breaker maintenance, an optimal maintenance schedule is provided for utilising planned outages as well as suggestions concerning the use of unplanned outages.