Tnb Approach on Managing Asset Retirement for Distribution Transformers

TNB has a population of nearly 74,000 distribution transformers with rated capacity from 100 kVA to 1000 kVA installed in its network. Managing life cycle activities of distribution transformers, in particular to implement maintenance and retirement programs, poses a great challenge due to its very large population. In addition, problem of high premature failure rate of distribution transformers has added to the complexity of managing the retirement of the transformers. Most of these transformers have been scrapped based merely on the results of test conducted without any economical consideration. This has contributed to high number of write-off which gave rise to company’s cost per unit kWh generated. Furthermore, failure modes and causes of failed distribution transformers are often unknown as failure investigation was not carried out. This paper presents TNB approach on managing asset retirement of distribution transformers with the use of Asset Retirement Management System (ARMS) developed as part of the initiatives under TNB Asset Management Framework.