Dubai: In a major upgrade of the power generation and distribution system, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has opened two new command centres that will help reduce loss of customer minutes.
The upgrade also includes replacing the existing meters with smart meters that will help improve accuracy in readings, helping customers significantly in reducing their monthly bills.
Dewa’s Dh500 million Warsan Complex that houses a transmission and distribution command centre, was inaugurated by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday.
Shaikh Hamdan also remotely inaugurated Al Qusais Control Centre that, along with the Warsan Complex, will help cater to the growing demand for power.
“The opening of the Warsan Complex updates and automates our systems and meets the needs of urban expansion projects and growing demand for electricity and water services, which we provide at the highest levels of quality, reliability, and sustainability,” said Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa
He added the project is in line with the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to drive the sustainable growth of Dubai.
Apart from two command centres, the 650,159 square foot complex houses a 27,011KV power plant, an administration building that can accommodate up to 2,350 employees and warehouses.
The new multi-site facility will help improve distribution and can cater future demands up to six times the size of existing grid.
“Al Qusais Control Centre and the Warsan Complex will together support the power demands of the entire emirate and have the capacity to serve demands up to 2020 and beyond. Separating the control centres has enabled us to adopt two smart programmes for transmission and distribution. This will help us to complete the Smart Grid project efficiently and meet the requirements of transmitting power through the National Emirates network,” he said.
He further added that the upgraded system has the capacity to handle 1,200 energy plants.
As part of the upgrade Dewa has also launched a new customer friendly power management system that will reduce customer minute loss and line loss significantly.
“We will be installing one million smart meters at apartments and villas over the next five years at a cost of Dh7 billion. Around 100,000 of these meters have already been installed of which 20,000 have been activated,” he revealed.
The smart meters will provide live and accurate reading, while also helping customers move apartment without hassle.
“When a customer moves house, it takes up to eight hours to update the system. The new meters can be updated online and it will be activated within minutes. Even in case of line disconnection due to non-payment of bills, the reconnection will be done automatically once the bill is paid,” said Al Tayer.
The upgrade also includes relaying of power cables and installing new transmitters,
