Methodological Evaluation of Power-Distribution Equipment Systems in South Africa Using Multilevel Regression Analysis for Yield Improvement Studies

Power distribution equipment systems (PDES) play a critical role in South Africa's industrial sector, particularly in enhancing the efficiency of energy supply and demand. A comparative study employing multilevel regression analysis was conducted, utilising data from various industrial sites in South Africa. Data were collected through surveys and site inspections, with a focus on power distribution equipment systems performance metrics. Multilevel regression analysis revealed that the proportion of yield improvement varied significantly across different regions (e.g., urban vs rural), suggesting regional-specific factors influence efficiency. A key finding is that optimal system design can lead to an average yield increase of 15%. The study underscores the importance of tailored PDES systems for achieving maximum performance, highlighting the need for localized engineering solutions in South Africa's energy sector. Policymakers should prioritise regional-specific studies to tailor PDES design and implementation strategies. Industrial stakeholders are encouraged to adopt best practices based on findings from this study. The maintenance outcome was modelled as Yᵢₜ=β₀+β₁Xᵢₜ+uᵢ+εᵢₜ, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.