Optimizing Distribution Losses through ETAP

High distribution system losses remain a major obstacle to efficient electricity supply in developing countries. In Bangladesh, losses exceed 10% and include both technical losses (TLs), caused by conductor resistance, transformer inefficiencies, and reactive power flow, and non technical losses (NTLs), such as theft, faulty metering, and billing errors. These losses increase operating costs, reduce revenue, and undermine energy sustainability. This paper presents a techno-economic assessment of loss-reduction strategies at the Tongi 33/11 kV substation under Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO), using the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP). Three strategies were evaluated: parallel feeder reconfiguration, capacitor bank installation, and distributed generation (DG) integration. Simulation results show that the proposed design reduces system losses from 12.12% (12.265 MW) to 6.26% (6.299 MW), nearly halving total losses. Voltage profiles improved within ±5 % of nominal, and feeder overloads were eliminated. Economic analysis confirmed financial viability. With an investment of 216 crore BDT, annual energy savings exceeded 646 crore BDT, yielding a net profit of approximately 381 crore BDT over 15 years. The findings demonstrate that coordinated technical strategies can significantly improve both efficiency and financial performance, offering a scalable framework for utilities in Bangladesh and similar contexts.