Smart Grid and the Evolution of Dispatch Centers
- Apr 21, 2011
- Tim McThenia
Distribution operations control centers have traditionally relied primarily upon manual processes to monitor and control the distribution system in a safe and reliable manner. Issuance of paper tickets generated by customer service representatives provided notification to system operators of an outage or power quality issue. Distribution system loads were monitored through the analysis of paper charts and graphs that were retrieved manually by field personnel and tucked away in metal file cabinets. Does that sound like your current process?
Switching was accomplished through manual processes that often relied upon dated customer load trends (referred to as the metal file cabinet process) and “tribal knowledge” of the distribution system. Status of disconnects and field devices such as reclosers, regulators and capacitor banks had to be operated, checked and verified by dispatching field personnel who were tracked by crudely developed crew tracking sheets or rosters. The role of the operator could be characterized as a manual integrator of information and processes. Ask a dispatcher if they think of themselves as a manual integrator of information and processes…..I bet they say “No way, I’m just a dispatcher!” Then describe the processes above and I’m sure they will shake their head in disbelief when they realize that they are an integrator!
In contrast, Smart Grid solutions that are being deployed today, such as Distribution Management Systems (DMS), Outage Management Systems (OMS), and Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) will give the system operator a wealth of real-time system data regarding customer outages, feeder loading, device status, equipment condition monitoring, and aid in maintaining the overall health of the distribution system. Consequently, as the Smart Grid becomes a reality the whole paradigm of how a system operator monitors and operates the distribution system will change forever.
For example, when a distribution circuit opened automatically due to a faulted condition, the system operator would send a first responder to patrol the circuit while the system operator reviewed customer calls looking for key information, which at times could be misleading. In parallel, the first responder is patrolling the circuit and checking the status of manual fault indicators on the circuit. Once the cause of the fault has been identified, the first responder would isolate the fault by opening manual disconnects and then close manual disconnects to restore customer service.
Today, given that exact same scenario, Smart Grid solutions such as a DMS would automatically locate the fault, isolate the faulted section of the circuit, and then restore service to un-faulted sections of the circuit while taking in consideration loading constraints on the alternate source (elimination of metal file cabinet file process). In addition, an OMS will be handling all of the customer outage calls being processed from the utilities’ call center and providing estimated restore times for those customers requesting restoration information. Equally important, crew information will be electronically stored in OMS to quickly give the system operator the ability to assign first responders to an outage.
The layman can see the disparity between the two customer restoration processes above. Conversely, the table below compares and contrasts information inputs and processes used in the scenarios above.
| Process | Past | Future |
| Customer Outages | - Customer phone calls
- Local service centers - Issuance of paper tickets |
- AMI information
- Outage Management Systems (OMS) - Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) |
| Fault Location | - Patrolling of circuits
- Police/fire calls - Customer observations |
- Electronic fault indicators
- Distribution Management System (DMS) - Fault indication on intelligent switches and reclosers. |
| Customer Restoration | - Dated circuit loading
- Manual switching - Windshield time |
- Automated isolation of faulted sections of circuit
- Automated restoration of un-faulted sections of circuit - Real-time loading information |
In conclusion, there will be numerous processes that will be forever changed with the coming of Smart Grid solutions that will be part of the distribution system. Likewise, not only is the distribution system changing, so are the required skills of the system operator changing. In fact, as more and more advanced systems are deployed in the dispatch center, computer skills will be equally important as knowledge of the distribution system. In future blogs, we will discuss how to prepare your system operators for the deployment of Smart Grid solutions because there will be challenges ahead!