The Southern Region II of Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) is effectively responding to electricity supply requests submitted by customers, according to the region’s director, Ato Mitku Taye.
Ato Mitku stated that the region currently has sufficient electricity capacity to meet the growing power demand and is therefore providing prompt responses to electricity requests submitted by customers.
However, he noted that the demand for electricity is steadily increasing due to the expansion of industries and the rapid growth of urban areas. To address this rising demand, the region has already begun implementing various measures aimed at strengthening power supply capacity.
He explained that in order to ensure a reliable electricity supply, the region is identifying factors that cause power interruptions and undertaking expansion works, switchgear modernization, and system upgrades at substations.
As examples, the director mentioned the capacity enhancement and upgrading works carried out or currently underway at the Sodo No. 1, Hosanna, Key Afer, and Sawla substations.
According to Ato Mitku, due to the increasing number of electricity users in Sodo City and surrounding areas, plans have been made to install two additional transformers at substations located in the city.
He said the planned upgrades will help the region properly respond to future increases in electricity demand.
In addition to the improvements being carried out at existing substations, the institution is also constructing new substations and expanding existing facilities in anticipation of future electricity demand in the region.
Once these projects are completed, they will create additional capacity to provide reliable electricity supply and expand access to power services across the areas served by the region, he added.
Meanwhile, Ato Yohannes Mena, Director of the Wolaita Region of Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU), stated that the capacity of substations must be expanded in advance in order to effectively respond to the growing electricity demand associated with urban growth and industrial expansion.
He explained that the substations in Sodo City not only enable quick responses to electricity requests but also help provide stable power supply without interruptions or voltage fluctuations, thereby improving service quality.
The Southern Region II power supply network covers the entire South Ethiopia Regional State and partially serves the Central Ethiopia Regional State. The region manages eight high-voltage substations of various kilovolt levels, including the Sodo Converter Station, as well as 1,180 kilometers of transmission lines.
