Modernisation of a regional energy distribution network

The political changes in the east of Germany have created completely new requirements for the technical and economic boundary conditions of the supply of electrical energy. The authors describe the resulting demands with regard to the configuration of distribution networks and their technical realisation, taking the example of a large regional power utility, Mitteldeutsche Energieversorgung Aktiengesellschaft MEAG. The new statutory stipulations and market demands mean not only economic efficiency and ecological compatibility but also a high supply quality, characterised by a sufficient in-time presentation of energy to all customers, high-quality voltage and short resupply times. The authors describe the measures needed to achieve the sub-goals mentioned on the basis of future network planning and operational management strategies, the interaction of concepts and their implementation to set up a modern energy supply system. They highlight the problems as well as the possibilities produced by the extraordinary situation of a relatively short-term, comprehensive restructuring of total networks of such a size