Assessment of ways of improving the supply continuity in electric power systems - A simulation approach

Supply continuity is a key factor in product quality in electricity utilities. Supply outages are inevitable but a key objective of management is that these be minimised in terms of frequency and duration. The problem of supply continuity is particularly acute in rural areas which are supplied from radial tail fed lines. Improvements can be achieved by major capital expenditure such as the addition of costly parallel lines, the inclusion of such aids as SCIs (Short Circuit Indicators) which speed up the location of faults, and additional telecommunications equipment. Also changes in the operating procedures used in locating faults and restoring supply can have a significant effect on customer down time and hence on supply continuity. The realistic prediction of the effect of improvements in capital equipment, additional control and monitoring devices and/or of changes in operating procedures on customer down time is of fundamental importance. This paper presents a detailed simulation approach which can be used in such predictions.