Improved Control & Operation of the Distribution Power System

Unlike Transmission grids which typically have extensive monitoring points through SCADA systems, most distribution grids today have limited monitoring capability resulting in the systems containing either additional margin in their design to account for the lack of detailed system loading and voltage information or stress points that go unnoticed until a point in time when a failure occurs most likely resulting in an unplanned outage to customers. With the implementation of AMI systems, data concerning customer loading on the system becomes readily available to the utility which can be used by GRIDmaster to perform near real-time analysis of the distribution power grid to determine stress points on the system (ie overloaded line segments or low/high voltage conditions) and allow utility operating elements to determine whether the condition identified requires corrective action (either immediate or future planned) or whether the risk level associated with the operating condition is acceptable. This level of intelligence can have an impact on the utilities reliability level (can improve reliability SAIFI and SAIDI levels) by addressing stress points prior to serious impact to customers through an outage). This level of intelligence can also have an impact on the utilities Operation and Maintenance expense levels as the stress conditions can be addressed proactively in a planned fashion instead of in a reactionary mode (ie a trouble call requiring a call out or a hold over of crews).

The near real time analysis capabilities of GRIDmaster will also provide a method to monitor and control distributed generation on the grid for the system operator as he will have a tool to help analyze the impacts that on-line generation has on the distribution grid through the use of the analysis capabilities of GRIDmaster. The analysis tool will provide the dispatcher with intelligence on the voltage and loading levels as well as the protection impacts of the distribution feeders impacted by distributed generation installations. The need to have intelligence to monitor and control the distribution grid when distributed generation is applied is necessary to run a safe power system and GRIDmaster can provide that additional knowledge through it’s analysis capabilities.