The latest thoughts from our Chief Engineer, Aleksandar Lemez, and Aleksandar Simovic, Faculty of Electrical Engineering in University of East Sarajevo, around solutions for rehabilitation for voltage regulations in a distribution network. The article highlights our dependency on electricity and the importance of improving the quality of our distribution lines.

In contemporary society, life without electricity cannot be imagined. Electricity is producedin power plants, then transferred via high-voltage networks over greater or lesser distance, while distributionnetworks direct the electricity via a series of distribution transformers of medium-voltage and low-voltage networksto its final destination - consumers. Electricity prices must meet the appropriate quality standards (EN 50160),while on the other hand, a distributor must take into account the economic parameters of cost-effectiveness ofinvesting. Distribution of electricity in newly condensed consumer areas (urban areas) is not a problem both in termsof quality of delivered electricity and in terms of cost-effectiveness of investment operations. Distribution ofelectricity in dilute consumer areas (small villages), as well as in areas with such an electricity infrastructure inwhich the quality of supplied electricity comes out of the EN 50160 standard is a problem in terms of profitabilityof the investment project and, as such, causes dissatisfaction among consumers, while among distributors it causesboth generator losses and inefficiency of the system (ie, useless power facility). In the first place, it means thatthe farthest consumers of associated substations are subjected to poor quality of delivered electricity.

The classical method to improve the quality of electricity supply on the existinginfrastructure involves: increase of voltage on the corresponding transformer stations from 10/0.42 kV to 253V,increase in cross-sectional areas of conductors - by installing conductors with larger sections or by conductingparallel conductors, then increase in cross-sectional areas of conductors and installation of capacitor banks as wellas the construction of a medium-voltage power line with corresponding substations of 10 (20) /0.42 and 50 kVA. Thispaper will show a new method of "VROT-18" system with a corresponding device that has the same efficiency as thesubstation of 10/0.42 kV has, except that it uses power from the existing low-voltage power line. The system of thisoperation is not based on raising the voltage but on the load balancing, and with its convenient fit it eliminatesharmonic distortions generated by consumers at the section of the low-voltage power line which is supplied by"VROT-18" system. On the other hand, it increases the selectivity and the sensitivity of reactions protection."VROT-18" system is installed on the section of the low-voltage power line where the quality of electricity comes outof the EN 50160 standard. By applying the "VROT-18" system it is possible to achieve cost savings in investment from60% to 700% depending on the construction plan.

Key words: distribution network, rehabilitation of conditions for voltage regulations, newtechnology, standardized nominal voltage