i-DE, Iberdrola España's distribution company, increases the capacity of the Greater Bilbao network

As part of the actions aimed at improving supply in Biscay, i-DE, a distributor of the Iberdrola España Group, has completed the project to build the new substation that feeds the substations located in Deusto, Asua, Mazarredo, Galdakao, Txurdinaga and Aceralia.
The investment made by i-DE amounted to €6 million and the assembly of the substation, as well as the necessary modifications to the lines, involved companies based in the Basque Country, which has generated local employment during the work.

Worker checks the meters

Iberdrola España, through its distributor i-DE, reaffirms its commitment to smart gridsExternal link, opens in new window. and its commitment to customers and the quality of supply in Biscay. It has commissioned a new substation in Artxanda to increase and improve the capacity of the Greater Bilbao grid. This new facility improves the reliability of supply for customers in the area. In total, around 150,000 customers will see their electricity supply reinforced.

This action has focused on the Basauri-Gatika double-circuit axis. This axis feeds important substations in Bilbao and the surrounding area, such as those located in Deusto, Asua, Mazarredo, Galdakao, Txurdinaga and Aceralia. The work carried out has improved the manoeuvrability of the installation, enabling it to operate, with the most advanced network protection and control technologies, 6 independent circuits instead of the 2 that existed before.

The investment made by i-DE External link, opens in new window. in this project totalled €6m and contractors and manufacturers with a presence in the Basque Country participated in the assembly of the substation, as well as in the necessary modifications to the lines, which generated local employment during the work. These included teams from ZIV, Arteche, Ormazabal, Ingeteam, Elecnor and Obremo.

After obtaining all the administrative authorisations, the project has been executed in 48 months. The new installation also strengthens the growth in demand expected in the area, as well as the growing penetration of self-consumption, both individual and collective.

A level of service quality above the national average

Iberdrola España's distribution company has improved the quality of the electricity supply it offers its customers in the Basque Country by 17% by the end of 2022. The index that measures this service - Interruption Time Equivalent to Installed Power (TIEPI) - accumulated to date is below 45 minutes. In this way, the company achieves the best year-end value in its history.

These figures are the result of i-DE's investments in new electrical infrastructures and the maintenance and renewal of existing ones, as well as its ambitious digitalisation plan.

The company, which maintains a level of service quality in the BAC above the national average, has in recent years undertaken an ambitious plan to digitalise its electricity grids, converting its more than 1.5 million meters and the infrastructure that supports them into smart meters, incorporating remote management, supervision and automation capabilities.

Iberdrola España's distributor will continue to promote its electricity grid infrastructures in the Basque Country, which are key to ensuring the transition to a carbon-free economy, and despite already offering its customers the best quality in the system, has set a target of improving its supply quality by 10% by 2025. This improvement in quality will also have a positive impact on the affordability of electricity supply for customers and will enable further improvements in service.

In the Basque Country, i-DE manages more than 18,600 km of low and medium voltage lines and more than 4,430 km of high and very high voltage lines. It also has 11,916 transformation centres in service and 165 substations. The company maintains a level of service quality in the BAC that is above the national average, with the best value at year-end in history.