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POWER ENGINEERS SUPPORTING TRUTH
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Review Required of Electric Power System Operations Prepared by F. J. Delea, J. A. Casazza, G.C. Loehr and R.M. Maliszewski Power Engineers Supporting Truth
Electric power system reliability is the result of the effective interaction of institutions, numerous technological systems and operators.
The increasing complexity of the operational requirements of the electric power system demands a thorough review of the role of each of these components and their impacts on reliability of the entire operating environment. The investigation must determine if the operator has the authority, instructions, information, training, tools and capability to operate the system in a reliable state and to respond to system incidents in a timely and effective manner. If not, the investigators must identify what has to be done to achieve the desired capabilities and times. They also must establish a system to monitor and ensure that the capabilities are achieved and maintained.
The recommendations made to date in response to the request for comments on the draft report on the August 2003 blackout are a series of “Band Aids” in that they do not address the broader operating issue; i.e. in a significantly more complex operating environment, what exactly do we want our systems and our operators to accomplish?
We recommend that teams of experienced operators and engineers define the overall requirements needed to operate a reliable power system. The recommended investigation requires that the industry clearly and specifically state its mission, goals and objectives with regard to reliability. The team should identify the full range of issues that can affect the reliable operation of a power system. Once identified, the relative contribution of each issue to the reliable operation of the power system can be accessed and dealt with. This investigation should also cover the operational relationship between the operating center and the RTO/ISO.
As an illustration of the complexity of just one of the issues involved, the Appendix to this document contains a listing of some, but not all, of the questions that could be asked when evaluating the system operator’s role and responsibility. This material is not intended to be a thorough list of all the questions that need to be considered. Another of the issues that should be examined in detail is the adequacy, in terms of numbers and skills, of the support staff at the operating center.
What we have to date is a scattered set of recommendations addressing parts of the issues impacting system operation but nothing that looks at the issues in a broad context. Nothing tells us if we will achieve a set of overall objectives. All relevant components of the operating environment (institutions, technological systems and operators) should be examined by groups of experienced operators and engineers to see if they contribute to meeting reliability objectives. If not, recommendations should be made as needed for improvements. If, after due deliberation, reliability goals cannot be achieved by normal means, different strategies may need to be developed; under no circumstance, however, should reliability standards be watered down.
Review Required of Electric Power System Operations Appendix
As an illustrative example, consider a few, but not all, of the issues that could be addressed when evaluating whether a system control center/operator can meet the requirement to adjust power flows power flows following a contingency within a specified time period so as to be able to survive another contingency.
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To participate in Pest activities contact: Jack Casazza |