Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

2.9 Engineering Division

2.9.1 Introduction
LECO Engineering Division is responsible for planning, designing of distribution system,
carrying out special projects, procurement of goods and training of LECO staff. This division is
supervised by the Head of the Engineering Division Dr.Narendra De Silva. I gained a good
training at this division within one week and I was trained under the Chief System Development
Engineer Mr.C.S.Unagolla.

2.9.2 LECO Network

Since it was the first week of my training in LECO I obtained a basic knowledge about the
LECO Company and its network. The electricity transfer voltage from CEB to LECO network is
11kV. Twenty Nine 33/11kV primary substations supply power to the LECO owned network
comprising of 1017km of 11kV network, 3065 km of 400V network and 6184 distribution
substations s. Schematic of the LECO system is given below.

CEB LECO

LBS LBC
PSS
33 kV 11 kV
LBC

DDLO Tf FDS
ABC T-Off

SA Service line
 PSS – Primary Substation
 LBS – Load Break Switch Meter
 LBC – Load Break Cutout
 DDLO – Drop Down Left Over MCB
 FDS – Fuse Disconnector Switch Consumer
 ABC – Arial Bundle Conductor
 MCB – Miniature Circuit Breaker
 SA – Surge Arrester

Figure 2.2 SCHEMATIC OF LECO SYSTEM

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 18

University of Moratuwa
Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

2.9.3 Arial Bundle Conductors (ABC)

LECO uses ABC conductors in their distribution overhead power lines which has 5 insulated
conductors bundled tightly together. In the bundle 3 conductors stand for the three phases, one
for the neutral conductor and the other cable stands for supplying power to street lights. The
main purpose of using these bundle conductors is safety of the public and workers. When the
bundle is connected to the poles the neutral cable is used to hold the whole bundle’s weight.

2.9.4 Geographical Information System ( GIS )

Today LECO is proud of having comprehensively updated GIS mapping system of half meter
accuracy for entire governed area to keep track of the available assets of the company. GPS data
is collected in the field using the GPS antenna and stored with coordinates using a data logger.
Then the collected data will be transferred to a software called “Pathfinder” and subjected to
differential correction and the map will be imported to AUTOCAD Maps. Then the particular
map is linked with the GIS map to update the existing map. This map drawn by the branches is
sent to the head office. Then the final map is prepared at the head office. I was also able to study
the way of preparing some maps at the head office. Section of a GPS / GIS map is provided in
the Annex A11,2,9,4.

2.9.5 Other Training Experiences

When I was there I was able to study the 4 volumes of the Company’s Construction Manuals
which contain concepts and design criteria, general arrangements drawings, equipment selection
charts and equipment drawings. These construction manuals provide a detailed reference to
maintain a standard of constructions. As well as I learned the local and foreign procurement
procedures of the company. When the cost of goods to be bought exceeds Rs 10 million tenders
are been called otherwise quotations are been called. This process also differs according to the
type of the supplier as foreign or local.
In addition to that I learned the procedure of preparing a Load Forecast Report and I studied the
Load Forecast (2010 – 2015) report published by System Development Branch.

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 19

University of Moratuwa
Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

2.10 Kalutara Branch Office

2.10.1 Introduction
LECO has been divided to 7 branches according the regions to maintain its operations. A branch
is headed by a Branch Manager is assisted the Branch Engineer, Branch Accountant and
Administrative Officer. Branch Engineer is responsible for the network operations and customer
services while the Branch Construction and Planning engineer is responsible for the asset
management function. The Branch Accountant is responsible for the financial accounting and
the Branch Administration Officer is handling the administration of the branch. I got the chance
to train for one week under the Branch Manager at the Kalutara Branch.

2.10.2 Customer Billing and Revenue Collection

When I was there I learned about the tariff categories of the company, customer billing process
and revenue collection procedures. LECO distributes electricity to nearly 460,000 customer
based on six major tariff categories. The highest energy consumption of the network is also the
Domestic customers which amount to 44% of our total energy sales. Customers’ average
consumption under six tariff categories in year 2008 is given below.
Customer Category Average Percentage
Consumption from the total
(kWh)
Domestic 469326 43.97%

Religious 7067 0.6%

General Purpose 278035 26.05%

Industrial 242824 22.75%

Hotels 42420 3.97%

Street Lighting 25595 2.3%

Table 2.3 LECO CUSTOMERS’ AVERAGE CONSUMPTION IN YEAR 2008

Issuing bills is done by the revenue officers for every 30 days period by visiting the consumers.
If there is any mistake with the revenue officers’ bill calculations it can be detected by the LECO
Billing System and correction will be done by the next month’s bill.

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 20

University of Moratuwa
Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

To collect the bill payments Private Bill Payment Collection agents were introduced in addition
to the Banks at the early stages. Other than that now various modes of payment facilities such as
internet payment, credit card payments, and automatic bill payment schemes are available to
customers and also system is updated online.

2.10.3 Non Payment Disconnection

If an issued bill is not settled within 14 days a notice of disconnection is sent through the next
month’s bill to the customers. A model of Notice of Disconnection is provided in the Annex
A12,2,10,3. If the customer further fails to settle the payments within 10 days the disconnection
operation is taken into action and 2% of the bill value also will be added to the bill. After settle
all the arrears payments and disconnection processing fees the customer will be able to get the
connection again.

2.10.4 New Connection and Meter Testing

New connection can be obtained from LECO as a permanent supply, temporary supply or
temporary permanent supply by submitting an application to a Customer Service Centre or
Branch along with all the required proof documents. Then after the inspection and Estimation
approval the connection is provided.
Normally Meter Testing duties are done in a case of complains regarding a meter. The customer
should fill a request form and the payments the testing duty is taken into action. When testing a
meter another parallel meter is fixed in the requested place and check whether there is any
difference between two meter readings. If the error is greater than 2.5 % meter is replaced as
well as the request fee is also refunded.

2.10.5 Other Training Experiences

In addition to the above mentioned experiences I was able to obtain a fair knowledge about the
route survey procedure, estimation preparing procedure and job costing procedure which are
carried out when designing a new line. And also I learned how to do construction work and pole
erection when implementing a new line. As well as I obtained a fair knowledge about the duty
which is done by the Administration Division of the Branch.

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 21

University of Moratuwa
Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

2.11 System Operation Division

2.11.1 Introduction
The operations division is mainly responsible for carrying out day to day distribution system
operations such as controlling, upgrading and consumer relations in its network. I was appointed
to this division for one week and I trained under the Control Engineer of the Distribution Control
Centre.

2.11.2 Distribution Control Centre ( DCC )

Distribution Control Centre plays an important role to maintain continuous and reliable power
supply by constantly monitoring and controlling the performance of the entire distribution
system. The operational staff involves operation throughout the 24 hours of the day and there is a
mimic board which contains the LECO HV lines’ switch diagram to identify the current situation
easily. Power supply interruption scheduling is another major task carried out by the DCC. Other
than interruption scheduling other functions of the DCC can be listed as follows.
 Alternate supply arrangements for customers during supply outage.
 Procurement of new equipment to the LECO distribution system.
 Monitoring and analysis of the power failures and provide instructions to the field staff to
restore power supply without delay.
 Preparation of daily and monthly Outage Reports which contain details of planned
interruptions and power failures based on branches.
 Preparation of monthly Consumer Service Calls Reports by obtaining the daily reports of
the consumers’ complaints received to CSC s, Branches and DCC.
A copy of a daily outage report received to the DCC is provided in the Annex A13,2,11,2.
Electricity Supply Outage Report contains some important indices which can be contributed to
maintain the stability of the system and decide the precautions. These indices are calculated
based on the collected details of the planned interruptions and power failures. Details and the
formulas of those indices are provided in the Annex A14,2,11,2.
When I was at the DCC I was able to study and obtain a fair knowledge about the above
mentioned duties.

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 22

University of Moratuwa
Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

2.11.3 Interruption Scheduling

Power supply interruptions for routine maintenance work or construction are made by the
Customer Service Superintends through a Request Form which contains all the details such as
feeder name, section, related primary substation, purpose and time regarding the interruption
required. After receiving the Interruption request the Control Engineer and the Senior Controller
analyze the availability and take the final decision as well as fix a date for the particular
interruption. Then the Company informs the ordinary customers about the planned power
interruptions through media and the Bulk Supply customers individually. After that, instructions
are provided through a switching instruction form with a diagram of isolation to the field staff for
switching operations. Then the work permit is issued for the field staff after isolation of high
voltage lines and related terminal equipment, and also reversal of the operation is done after
completion of work and the work permit is cancelled. When the switch operation is done
operator should communicate with DCC.

2.11.4 Meter Test Lab

During that week I was able to visit the meter test lab of LECO situated in Ekala. The major
functions of that lab are bulk and retail meter testing, meter repairing and commissioning. At
there I was able to observe how to repair the meters which had been sent to the lab due to their
malfunction. Almost all the defected meters of LECO are sent to this place to repair. After
undergoing repair at the test lab the meters are being tested for accuracy. Newly manufactured
meters are also commissioned in the test lab to check their accuracy. Test lab consists of a test
bench which can be used to test 10 meters at the same time.

When I was there I experienced how to test

and commission the repaired and new
meters before using in the field.

Figure 2.3 METER TEST BENCH

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 23
University of Moratuwa
Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

2.12 Kalutara Customer Service Center

2.12.1 Introduction
Each branch area of LECO has been further divided into three or four Customer Service Centers
(CSC) with an approximately 20,000 customers for each center. Each customer service center is
equipped with 24 hour maintenance team with the set of equipment such as fleet of vehicles,
hydraulic platform trucks, digger cranes and other associated heavy duty equipment which has
facilities to attend any breakdown call within 20 to 30 minutes of time. The customer service
centers are located in such a manner that the breakdown maintenance teams can attend any fault
within 30 minutes. This entire breakdown maintenance operation is centrally monitored through
the Company’s control centre through a LECO owned radio communication network. Apart from
those, planned construction work, new connections, disconnections, reconnections, service line
estimations, pole shifting, service line shifting and meter shifting are also carried out by CSCs. In
addition to that supervision of the revenue officers, who issue the bills, is also done by the CSCs.

According to my schedule I was appointed to Kalutara Customer Service Center of LECO for
one week training. At there I was trained under the Customer Service Superintend of the CSC
Mr.Senaratne. When I was there I was able to involve breakdown repairs and maintenance work
and I obtained many experiences.

2.12.2 Replacing a pole

During that week I got the chance to involve a duty of replacing a pole which has been damaged
due to fall of a tree on the line.
I went there with the maintenance
gang. I could see that the pole had
been cracked from its ground level.
First of all the wire bundle was
detached from the pole. Then the
cracked pole was removed using the
crane. After that the new pole was
planted.

Figure 2.4 REMOVING THE DAMAGED POLE

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 24
University of Moratuwa
 Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

After planting the new pole I was able to

observe the way of attaching the wire bundle
to the pole using clamps. The bundle was
connected to the pole using the neutral wire.

Figure 2.5 ATTACHING THE BUNDLE TO THE POLE

2.12.3 Shifting a meter and a service line

Next day I went with the technicians to do a

duty of customer requested meter shifting.
Shifting the service wire also included to this
duty. At there I was able to observe and study
the way of connecting the load wire and the
service wire to the meter.
When shifting the service wire we could identify
that the length of the service wire is not
adequate to shift to the place where the meter
was shifted. Figure 2.6 SHIFTING A METER

Therefore service wire was extended by

applying a joint. The 2 wires of the
service line were extended by connecting
additional wires. Two LV line connectors
were used to apply the joint and the
connection was tightened using a
Climping tool.

Figure 2.7 APPLYING A JOINT USING CLIMPING TOOL

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 25

University of Moratuwa
Chapter 2 LECO Industrial Training Report

2.12.4 Repairing a broken service line

When I was there I got the chance to go with
the breakdown to repair a broken service line.
But the service wire was connected by
applying a temporary joint since the service
wire is very old and had been recommended to
replace. When applying this temporary joint
only the phase wire joint was insulated.

Figure 2.8 TEMPORARY JOINT

2.12.5 Breakdown Registry

CSC maintains a registry to record the customer complains. Each of such complain is recorded
with the details such as time of receiving the complain, mode of receiving the complain, type of
the fault, name and address of the complainer, repairing completing time and etc. The records of
this registry are sent to the DCC monthly.

2.12.6 Other Training Experiences

Apart from the above mentioned experiences I was able to involve another service wire shifting
duty. The wire was shifted to another pole since the line was crossed over another land.

In addition to that I went with the technicians to

give a new domestic connection. And I observed
the procedure of installing the meter box and the
meter. As well as I observed the way of connecting
the service wire to the existing bundle conductor
using T-Off connectors.

Figure 2.9 T-OFF CONNECTOR

Department of Electrical Engineering Page 26

University of Moratuwa