Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering -NQF 7

POW 370S Power Systems 3 - 2025

Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering

Chapter 1: National grid Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Tariffs.

Presented by: Mukovhe Ratshitanga (PrTechEng, SMSAIEE, MIEEE)

Developed by: Prof. Senthil Krishnamurthy (PrEng, SMSAIEE, MIEEE)
Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Bellville Campus
Cape Peninsula University of Technology | #WeAreCPUT 1
Content
1. Electricity Generation
1.1 Coal fired Power stations
1.2 Nuclear Power Stations
1.3 Peaking Power Stations
1.4 IPPs
2. Transmission
2.1 Transmission & Distribution plans
2.2 Demand Responses
2.2 Ancillary Services
2.3 Energy Market Services
2.4 ESKOM Data Portal
3. Distribution and Tariffs
3.1 IPP and Grid Access Unit
3.2 New and additional supply
3.3 MyEskom customer App 2
3.4 Tariff and Pricing
1. Electricity Generation
A turbine generator set transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy to produce electricity.
Natural gas, coal, nuclear fission, biomass, petroleum, geothermal, and solar thermal all produce
heat that is utilized to make steam that turns the turbine's blades. Turbine blades are directly
moved by flowing wind or water in the cases of wind power and hydropower, respectively [2].
Sunlight is directly converted to power by solar photovoltaic panels.
In a power plant, an industrial setting where large-scale electric power production and distribution
take place, electricity is created. The following power generating facilities make up South Africa's
electrical infrastructure:
• Coal-fired power station
• Nuclear power plant
• Hydroelectric power plant

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1. Electricity Generation
As seen in the image below, the majority of the 15 coal-fired power stations in South Africa's electricity system
are in Mpumalanga. Thermal power stations, such as coal-fired power plants, produce electricity by converting
heat energy.
Operation of coal-fired power stations:
These facilities burn coal in a boiler to create steam, which is then used to create electricity. Under extreme
pressure, the steam created enters a turbine, which turns a generator to generate power. In order to restart
the process, the steam is then cooled, condensed back into water, and fed back into the boiler. Coal makes up
most of the domestic energy resources in South Africa. Coal is the primary fuel that is utilized the most
commonly around the world, making up around 36% of the total fuel used to produce power. Coal meets over
77% of South Africa's basic energy requirements. Coal is used to generate more than 90% of the country of
South Africa's electricity [2].

Figure 1: Medupi power plant

Power
1. Electricity Generation
Units Installed 2001 Design efficiency Ramp rate Average Average Location
plant Capacity Capacity at rated turbine (MW/hr) availability production 3
MCR (%) over 3 years year 3 years
Arnot 6x 350MW 2 100 MW 1980 MW 35.60 % 34.48 92.07 % 9 675 GWh Middleberg,Mpumalanga
Camden 8x 200 MW 1 600 MW 1 561 MW 35.60 % 33. 33 92. 07 % 9 675 GWh 15 Km from Ermelo
Duvha 6x 600MW 3 600 MW 3 450 MW 37.6 % 40.00 89.85 % 22 798 GWh Witbank, Mpumalanga
Grootvlei 6x 200 MW 1 200 MW 1 345 MW 32.2 % 34. 55 93. 28 % 8 547 GWh Balfour, Mpumalanga
Hendrina 10x 200 2 000 MW 1900 MW 34.20 % 33.33 78. 86 % 7 945 GWh Middleberg, Mpmalanga
MW
Kendal 6x 686 MW 4 116 MW 3840 MW 35.30 % 16.67 Witbank, Mpumalanga
Kamati 5x 100 MW 1 000 MW 30.00 % Witbank via Vandyksdriff
Kriel 6x 500 MW 2 850 MW 34.99 % 30 76.8 % 17 880 GWh Between Kriel and Ogies,
Mpumalanga
Kusile 6x 800 MW 4 800 MW 3 984 MW 35.54 % 33.45 74. 08 % 17 956 GWh Nkangala district,
Mpumalanga
Lethabo 6x 618 MW 3 708 MW 3558 MW 37.80 % 33.33 93.05 % 21 572 GWh Between Vereenigeng
and Sasolburg, Free State
Majuba 3x 657MW 4 110 MW 3 690 MW 36.55 % 27.83 90.00 % 18 216 GWh Vloksrust & Amersfoort,
Mpumalanga
Matimba 6x 660 MW 3 990 MW 3 690 MW 35.60 % 28.57 93.67 % 23 789 GWh Lephalale, Limpopo
Matla 6x 600 MW 3 600 MW 3 450 MW 37.60 % 25.00 93.87 % 25 199 GWh Secunda, Mpumalanga
Medupi 6x 794 MW 4 800 MW 4 764 MW 35.60 % Limpopo
Tutuka 6x 609 MW 3 654 MW 3 510 MW 38.00 % 33.33 79.48 % 19 764 GWh Between Standerton and 5
Bethal, Mpumalanga
1. Electricity Generation
Koeberg nuclear power plant
In 1976, work on the Koeberg power plant began. It is located near Duynefontein, on the Atlantic coast, 27
kilometers from Cape Town. It provides electricity to the Western Cape province. Additionally, it ran
effectively and safely for 28 years [4].

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1. Electricity Generation
Koeberg nuclear power plant
The three systems below are used to operate the Koeberg power plant:
• Primary system
• Secondary system
• Tertiary system
Primary system
The primary system transfers heat from the reactor's fuel to the steam generators' tubes. A pump is then used
to restore the water to the reactor. Koeberg uses a three-loop system in this main system, which is pressurized
by a pressurizer. Since this system is closed, water from it doesn't enter the secondary or tertiary systems.
Secondary system
The backup system is likewise shut down. Three low pressure turbines, a high-pressure turbine, and a
generator are all powered by the steam generated from the water pumped into the steam generator. 921 MW
of power are produced by the generator. In the summer, the 1840 MW combined output of Koeberg's two
plants is sufficient to power the entire Western Cape. After the steam has powered the turbines, it travels
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through the condensers to be cooled down to water before being returned to the steam generators.
1. Electricity Generation
Koeberg nuclear power plant

Tertiary system
The condensers employ the tertiary system. 80 tons of sea water are used every
second by the condensers' cooling water system to cool the steam inside. After the
steam had cooled, it went back to the sea.
Waste racking
• Low level waste
• Intermediate level waste
• Spent fuel.
Nuclear safety
Meetings of the Public Safety Information Forum (PSIF) are held four times year.
Residents who live inside the Koeberg nuclear power station's municipal
boundaries can utilize it as a platform to ask and receive questions on nuclear
matters from the plant. Community residents, Koeberg management, City of 8
Cape Town disaster management, the Department of Energy, and the National
Nuclear Regulator are among the attendees at the conference (NNR).
1. Electricity Generation
Peaking power stations
 During the nation's peak periods, peaking power facilities supplement the base-load coal and nuclear power
plants. The national power grid is overloaded during the peak period when demand for electricity is greater than
what base-load stations can produce and deliver.
 Early morning and early evening are the busiest times in South Africa. While the evening peak is primarily
domestic, the morning peak is a mix of industrial and domestic demand. With a combined nominal capacity of 5 894
MW, peaking power facilities comprise gas turbines, hydroelectric (run-of-river) plants, hydro pumped storage, and
wind. There are 14 peaking power plants in South Africa as a whole [5].
Acacia and Port Rex power stations
 Gas turbine power plants with similar operations include Acacia and Port Rex. Their missions do, however,
occasionally diverge.
 For instance, Acacia, which operates as a peaking power station, backs up the Koeberg nuclear power plant's
electrical supply in accordance with license regulations set down by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR).
 The Eastern Cape province's system voltage is to be stabilized, in contrast, by the Port Rex power station. It can
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control voltage instability that lengthy transmission lines cause.
1. Electricity Generation
Peaking power stations

Acacia and Port Rex operation

The following operational characteristics are shared by both peaking power plants:
 Both include three 57 MW gas turbine generators that are powered by engines like those found in a Boeing
707 airplane. They were put into service in 1976.
 Can be controlled remotely from Eskom's control center.
 About 190 seconds after the start signal is initiated, units are synchronized to the system and sequencing is
automatic. Then, depending on whether the regular loading rate or the fast-loading rate is selected, the units
are driven to full load in five minutes or roughly fifteen to twenty minutes. A maximum of three hours can be
spent maintaining the peak load production. Each kerosene-powered gas turbine unit uses 5, 7 liters per
second at a basic output of 57 MW.

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1. Electricity Generation
Peaking power stations
Ankerlig and Gourikwas power plant construction
 The initial phases of this gas turbine aircraft were built in the same year, in January 2006.
 However, the initial phase of the Gourikwas plant only features three 148 MW units, as compared to the
four 148 MW units in the Ankerlig power station.
 These gas turbine plants were finished and officially handed over for use in commercial operations in June
2007. Five 147 MW units each make up the second stages of Ankerlig and Gourkwa, respectively.
Ankerlig and Gourikwas power plants operation
 The following operational characteristics are shared by both peaking power plants:
 Fuel oil and diesel power the OCGT. When the demand for electricity is high or there is an emergency, these
units send electricity to the national grid. They can control variations in network voltage.
Difference in fuel transportation
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1. Electricity Generation
Peaking power stations
Difference in fuel transportation
Ankerlig power plant Gourikwa power plant
Fuel is delivered by road tanker and off-loaded at one of From the gasoline store (PetroSA) to the storage tankers,
the off-loading skids at a rate of between 1 300 and 1 there are direct pipelines.
400 liters per minute because there are no direct possesses five off-loading skids that have a capacity of 1
pipelines to the fuel storage. 300 to 1 400 liters per minute for off-loading diesel from
road tankers.

Drankensberg pumped storage scheme

It is in KwaZulu-Northern Natal's Drankensberg. During peak hours, the four reversible pump turbines, which
are 156 m below earth, produce four 250 MW for Eskom's national grid. In order to transmit water from the
Tugela River to the Vaal dam via the Sterkfontein dam in the Free State, Eskom and the Department of Water
Affairs jointly developed the plan.

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1. Electricity Generation
Non – Dispatchable hydros
The former Transkei and Ciskei are where these hydroelectric power plants are located. However, when water is available, they can
also serve as base load stations. In order to satisfy the varying electrical needs of society, these stations produce electricity but are
unable to be turned on or off.

First Falls 6 MW Second Falls 11 MW

On the Umtata River, there is a run-of-river Second Falls, a run-of-river hydroelectric project with
hydroelectric power facility that was established in two 5, 5 MW units that were commissioned in 1979, is
1979. There are three megawatts in it. located downstream of First Falls. In the Eastern Cape,
about 5 km to the north-west of Umtata, releases from
the Umtata dam are used to increase the flow to two
power units during the dry season.

Mbashe 42 MW
Three 14 MW machines were installed at this run-of-river hydroelectric facility on the Mbashe River in the Eastern
Cape in 1985. The small hydro station uses the Ncora dam to deliver make-up water for this power plant.
Ncora 2.4 MW
This tiny hydroelectric facility in the Ncora River was established in 1983 and consists of three units with a combined 13
installed capacity of 2 MW.
1. Electricity Generation
Independent Power Producers
There is an increasing need for more power system capacity in South Africa. With the help of important stakeholders, the
department of Minerals and Energy examined a variety of possibilities for resolving the problem, including boosting and
quickening the involvement of Independent Power Producers and generators in the energy sector.
In important programs like the government's Renewable Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme, which
focuses on public-private partnerships with Independent Power Producers to create sustainable energy facilities, the private
sector is involved. To allow people and businesses to generate up to 100 MW without a license, South Africa published
proposed amendments to the electricity Regulation Act, 2006, as long as the generator complies with the Distribution and
Transmission Code and has a point of connection from the National Electricity Regulator South Africa [6].

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1. Electricity Generation
Further Reading
1.0 Eskom Generation, Transmission and Distribution Divisions
https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-divisions/

1.1 Coal Fired Power Stations

https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-divisions/gx/
https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-divisions/gx/coal-fired-power-stations/

1.2 Nuclear Power Stations

https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-divisions/gx/nuclear/

1.3 Peaking Power Stations

https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-divisions/gx/peaking-power-stations/

1.4 IPP Projects

https://www.ipp-projects.co.za/ProjectDatabase 15
2. Transmission
To study the following in this section of the transmission system chapter
Transmission Distribution plans
 Demand Responses
 Ancillary Services
Energy Market Services
ESKOM Data Portal (Supply Side, Renewables, Demand Side, Outage performance,
OCGTs (Open Cycle Gas Turbines) and Emissions)

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2. Transmission system
Overhead power lines transmit electricity at voltages ranging from 22 kV up to
765 kV.
Eskom is the first utility in the world to successfully operate transmission lines
at 765 kV at high altitudes above sea level.
Conductors are made of aluminium and steel in various combinations and in
various shapes and sizes.
Aluminum is used because it is a good conductor of electricity. Steel is just
used for the purpose of adding strength.

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2. Transmission
Eskom’s System operation:
The Eskom System Operator (SO) is responsible for the reliability and
security of the South African national electricity grid by monitoring, controlling
and operating it in a safe, economical and reliable manner.
Since March 2020, Eskom’s transmission network comprised 33,027 km of
high voltage transmission lines, and 153,135 MVA of transformer capacity
ranging from 132 kV to 765 kV.
 The majority of South Africa’s high voltage network is at 400 kV and is based
on alternating current (AC) technology, with the exception of the 1,032-km-
long.
533kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) monopolar line that links the
Cahora Bassa hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in Mozambique to
Johannesburg. South Africa’s electricity network is interconnected with the 18
grids of Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland
and Zambia.
2. Transmission
 The electrical transmission grid in South Africa is a critical component of the country's energy
infrastructure, supplying power to millions of people while also supporting economic growth and
development.
 However, significant investments and modernization efforts are required in the coming years to
overcome current challenges and ensure a stable and reliable energy supply. The electrical
transmission component of South Africa's electrical grid is in charge of delivering high-voltage
electricity from power plants to the distribution network.
 The transmission grid is designed to operate at 400 kV and 275 kV (Eskom, 2023), supplying
electricity to millions of homes, businesses, and industries across the country.
 As of 2021, South Africa's electrical transmission grid is made up of approximately 26,000 km
of overhead power lines, 230 substations, and 25,000 transformers. The grid is managed by
Eskom, which operates more than 90% (Eskom, 2023) of South Africa's generation capacity. To
address this issue of power cuts, the government has implemented numerous initiatives aimed
at expanding and modernising the electrical transmission grid. In 2021, the government
launched a R100 billion transmission grid expansion program, which includes the construction
of new power lines, substations, and transformers (Energy Sector Report, 2021).
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2. Transmission
 As part of this program, Eskom is working to upgrade the existing transmission grid by
replacing outdated equipment and improving overall network efficiency. Implementing smart
grid technologies such as advanced metering infrastructure, demand-side management
systems, and real-time monitoring systems is part of this.
 Despite these efforts, South Africa's electrical transmission grid is still plagued by issues such
as outdated equipment, insufficient capacity, and a lack of investment in maintenance and
upgrades.
 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) estimates that the country will need to
invest R200 billion over the next decade to address these issues and ensure the long-term
sustainability of the electrical transmission grid (Energy Sector Report, 2021). (NERSA,2021)

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High Voltage Transmission Lines

 2. Transmission
How transformers are used in South Africa’s Transmission network:

21

South Africa’s Transmission Network Stages

 2. Transmission
How transformers are used in South Africa’s Transmission network:

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South Africa’s Transmission Network Stages

 2. Transmission
How transformers are used in South Africa’s Transmission network:
 Transformers are installed at power stations to increase the voltage of the electricity to a level
that will be suitable for transmission over long distances. These transformers step-up the
voltage from 22 kV to about roughly; 220 kV, 275 kV, 400 kV or 765 kV and feed the electricity
into Eskom’s national grid. This voltage is eventually stepped down to a level usable to the
consumer. This could be 11 kV in large factories and 380/220 volts in shops and homes. These
step-down transformers are usually found in the sub-stations (Lisa et al, 2013)
 A step-up transformer increases the voltage. To do this, it has many more copper wire turns on
the secondary winding, where the electricity goes out, than on the primary winding where the
electricity enters the transformer from the power station.
 The electricity is transmitted over long distances to different substations in the system. In
substations the voltage is decreased by step-down transformers. In step-down transformers the
secondary winding has fewer turns than the primary winding. There may be several stages of
step-down transformers.

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2. Transmission
Ancillary service
In addition to primary energy, ancillary services are services that generators or customers provide to the system
operators. They are required to support the secure and dependable transfer of electricity from generators to consumers.
The following sections make up the supplementary services department:
1. Reserves
2. Reactive power, and voltage regulation
3. Black start and islanding
• Black start is the ability of generation to restart parts of the power system to recover from a blackout. This entails isolated power stations being started individually
and gradually reconnected to one another to form an interconnected system again.)
4. Energy imbalance Study support for ancillary services
• Energy imbalance is unavoidable because it is impossible for each control area to exactly match its generation to load in an
interconnected system.
• Energy Imbalance Management is needed to ensure that generation and load schedules are balanced over short time frames so
that markets are clear and the physical system is in balance.
• Regardless of electricity market design, system operators must always reserve sufficient resources to ensure that aggregate
energy supply and demand are continuously balanced
5. Financial assistance for ancillary services
• During peak periods (either summer or winter), the tendency is for some generators to fully bid into the day-ahead market in
anticipation of a higher price, resulting sometimes in insufficient moderately-priced capacity available for final balancing.
• This creates a need for whoever is financially exposed to high prices in the imbalance market to acquire a hedge in the form of
additional operating reserves. 24
• Similarly, in electricity markets with centralized pool dispatch, there is a need to provide incentives for resource owners –
generation or loads – to carry out dispatch instructions that may vary from the day-ahead schedule due to real-time balancing
needs.
3. Distribution system
The different types of substations within the distribution network:
 Sub- Stations are classified either according to service requirements for constructional features.
The main considerations when building a substation is the location, the arrangement of
components, maintenance and capital cost. Firstly, the substations will be discussed according to
their service requirements:
 A transformer sub-station is the most widely utilized as they are used to either step-up or step-
down volages for example, we need to step down 11kV to 400V to use in homes. Basically, they
change incoming supply to either a higher or lower voltage
 The operation of a switching substation is to carry out switching operations of the power lines.
They do not alter voltage levels, therefore voltage remains constant.
 This power factor correction substation improves the power factor of the overall system. Often,
they are situated at the receiving end of the transmission lines and contain synchronous
condenser as corrective equipment.
 The frequency changer substation alters the incoming frequency to a required frequency.
Generally, this type of sub-station is needed for industry purposes.
 The converting substation converts alternating to direct current output for mainly traction, 25
electroplating and welding purposes.
3. Distribution system
The different types of substations within the distribution network:
 The industrial sub-stations supply power to industries that require higher voltages for their
equipment than the average home. The next few substations are classified according to their
constructional features.
 Indoor substations have a maximum of 11kV supply due to their arrangement and equipment.
Outdoor sub-stations can withstand 66kV. The equipment is insulated to withstand the outdoor
conditions. The main reason for the outdoor sub-station is because of the space required
between conductors, switches, circuit breakers as well as other equipment. The underground
sub-stations are erected in densely populated areas as the cost is high and space is limited.
 Pole-mounted substations are the cheapest sub-station to erect with a receiving voltage not
exceeding 11kV (or 33kV in rare cases). Generally, these sub-stations distribute power to smaller
areas such as rural areas.

26

Substation in South Africa

3. Distribution system
Independent Power Producers (IPP)
 There is an increasing need for more power system capacity in South Africa. With the help of
important stakeholders, the department of Minerals and Energy examined a variety of
possibilities for resolving the problem, including boosting and quickening the involvement of
Independent Power Producers and generators in the energy sector.
 In important programs like the government's Renewable Independent Power Producers
Procurement Programme, which focuses on public-private partnerships with Independent
Power Producers to create sustainable energy facilities, the private sector is involved.
 To allow people and businesses to generate up to 100 MW without a license, South Africa
published proposed amendments to the electricity Regulation Act, 2006, as long as the
generator complies with the Distribution and Transmission Code and has a point of connection
from the National Electricity Regulator South Africa [6]. 27
3. Distribution system
Tariffs and Charges
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved the following tariff increases
to be applied to the Eskom direct customer tariff charges and to the Eskom tariffs applicable to
municipal local governments:

Kritzinger, Karin & Scholtz,. Louise & Korsten, N.. (2019). Integration of solar
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energy into the grid: technical or social challenge? Building a collective
vision. 6th Southern African Solar Energy Conference 2019, East London,
South Africa
3. Distribution system
MyEskom power App
 You may take charge, effortlessly from the palm of your hand, with the help of the free MyEskom
Customer App, which allows you to do everything from check your balance and submit your meter reading
to log and track service requests and report power loss defects.
 You can stay on top of vital account information with the help of the MyEskom Customer App. Simple
and uncomplicated.

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Electrical Symbols
Electrical Symbols — Electrical Circuits
Electrical Symbols — Power Sources
Electrical Symbols — Rotating Equipment
Electrical Symbols — Lamps, Acoustics, Readouts
Electrical Symbols — Delay Elements
Electrical Symbols — IGFET
Electrical Symbols — Inductors
Electrical Symbols — Analog and Digital Logic
Electrical Symbols — Semiconductor Diodes
Electrical Symbols — Electrical Circuits

Please refer to the link below 30

https://www.conceptdraw.com/examples/electrical-load-symbol
References
1. Eskom holdings SOC Ltd, Generation 2023, 11 February 2023, https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-
divisions/gx/#:~:text=Eskom's%20Generation%20Division%20has%20five

2. Eskom holdings SOC Ltd, 2023, Generation, 11 February 2023, https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-

divisions/gx/coal-fired-power-stations/

3. Eskom holdings SOC Ltd, 2023, 12 February 2023, https://encrypted-

tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRcYZ7VydOz7JonP_KGDDKfLgmXV3_twqB59Q&usqp=CAU
4. Eskom holdings SOC Ltd, 2023, Nuclear power plants, 12 February 2023, https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-
divisions/gx/nuclear/

5. Eskom holdings SOC Ltd, 2023, Peaking power stations 12 February 2023, https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-
divisions/gx/peaking-power-stations/

6. Eskom holdings SOC Ltd, 2023, Distribution, 12 February 2023, https://www.eskom.co.za/distribution/tariffs-

and-charges/
7. Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme [Online]. South African Government. Available at:
https://www.gov.za/about-government/government-programmes/renewable-independent-power-producer-
programme.
8. V.K Mehta, Rohit Mehta ,S Chand. (2006- 2018) “Principles of Power Systems”. Revised Edition. 31
India , Vikas Publishing House Pvt.Ltd.S Chand and Company Limited, New Dehli
Thank you

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